Sierra Steering columns

[qkingston]

Hi, I have a snag with the UJ on the Sierra Steering column (intermediate shaft) catching the back of the SS exhaust manifold (side pipes) on my Euro 427. A couple of questions,
To move the UJ out of the way of the offending pipe (and no that cannot be moved, it is a very tight fit to get it to clear under the chasis top rail and line up corectly with the exit point) I think I need to move it closer to the steering rack. To do this I need to extend the sliding triangular inner steering column shaft accordingly. Has anyone done this, is there any other way and can you cut and sleeve it to make the extension? What hapens when you pull the sliding shaft out of the outer column tube? the Haynes manual is not that clear, is it easy enough to slide back in, or is there some complicated gubbins inside that will all fall out? Many thanks
QK
(getting there-instructions would have been nice !)

[Sidecarbod]

Originally Posted by qkingston

Hi, I have a snag with the UJ on the Sierra Steering column (intermediate shaft) catching the back of the SS exhaust manifold (side pipes) on my Euro 427. A couple of questions,
To move the UJ out of the way of the offending pipe (and no that cannot be moved, it is a very tight fit to get it to clear under the chasis top rail and line up corectly with the exit point) I think I need to move it closer to the steering rack. To do this I need to extend the sliding triangular inner steering column shaft accordingly. Has anyone done this, is there any other way and can you cut and sleeve it to make the extension? What hapens when you pull the sliding shaft out of the outer column tube? the Haynes manual is not that clear, is it easy enough to slide back in, or is there some complicated gubbins inside that will all fall out? Many thanks
QK
(getting there-instructions would have been nice !)

You can slide the inner triangle tube in and out of the outter tube.

At the end of the outter tube I think there is a triangle bush (if you know what I mean!!). There is another bush about 6 inches further up inside the outter tube. Aparantley you have to be careful when pushing the two parts back together to avoid dislodging this upper bush. It might be worth putting a chamfer all round the end of the triangle rod to aid its location in this upper bush.

I guess that you could only push the two parts together far enough so that both bushes are in contact with the inner triangle tube.

The main problem with the whole setup is that its pretty crap! the bush that goes through the bulk head falls to pieces (if its the ford one) and there isn't much stopping the inner rod sliding in and out of the outter tube.

You could make two small clamps that goes round the triangle tube that you can tighten up like a jubilie clip, one pushed up against the lower bush in the outter tube and one up against the bulk head bush.

I believe that Robin put up a post showing a very good bearing that you can use instead of the crappy bulk head bush.

Regards,

Pete

[Sidecarbod]

You could get another inner triangle tube and get the two welded together.
If you do decide to do this I'd recommend that you force another smaller tube inside the two tubes that you are joining together with an overlap of a couple of inches inside either triangle tube. It does not have to be triangle in cross section, round tube would do.

I'd leave a gap of 3-4mm between at the join then get the whole lot welded up filling the gap with weld. Bare in mind what this tube is used for (i.e. steering!) so make sure that the welder knows what he's doing!

Regards,

Pete