Hey there, I have a '69 Firebird 400 I just acquired and it drives well and straight, but the steering wheel is almost upside down when in 'center' position. Can this be corrected by simply rotating the steering wheel, or is it done at the steering box (manual steering car), or is it done somewhere else? I know with some cars, you can rotate the steering wheel and it fixes this issue. I also know that this method will mess up the turn signals and horn functionality on other cars. I would appreciate help with this issue.
Removing the steering wheel will not help because there is only one position for it to go on the shaft. Just take your car in for a front end alignment, and the shop will re-calibrate everything to correct side up.
I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure. I feel like I am diagonally parked in a parallel universe. 1968 400 convertible (Scarlet) 1976 T/A - 455 LE (No Burt) 1976 T/A New baby, starting full restoration. 1968 350 - 4 speed 'vert - 400 clone (the Beast!) 1968 350 convertible - Wife's car now- 400 clone (Aleutian Blue) (Blue Angel) 2008 Durango - DD 2008 GXP - New one from NH is AWESOME! 2017 Durango Citadel - Modern is nice! HEMI is amazing! 1998 Silverado Z71 - Father-daughter project 1968 400 coupe - R/A clone (Blue Pearl) (sold) 1967 326 convertible - Sold 1980 T/A SE Bandit - Sold
these steering wheels dont have the splines on the shaft as European cars...so you cannot 'adjust' the wheel, you will get it adjusted with alignment...tie rods etc
They have splines but no master spline that would only allow the wheel to go on in only one position. You can install the wheel in any position. I would advise to to center you steering box by first turning it to the lock in one direction. Then turn and count the revolutions to the stop in the other direction. Next turn back exaclty half the total number of turns. This will "clock" the steering box. Install your wheel in the upright position. THEN take the car to get the front end aligned so the wheel is again straight up.
I want to see a pic of one that does not have splines.
see, now it comes back to me....
I only remember in 1963 ,installing a wooden steering wheel in my mini cooper, using a cresent wrench (wth , I was 18! lol) for the nut....it came off...about a year later while I (luckily) was on the freeway doing about 110.....I HAD rallyed that car earlier! its tense moment trying to get that wheel back on the splines at that speed! lol
Looks like this answer is going to be the correct one. Although the wheel is splined, the spring-loaded plate and shaft have a tic mark that can only go one way above the splines where the wheel is. At some point the steering column has been taken out of this car, and when put back, it was evidently installed 180-degrees off. I am thinking that once the rag joint is flipped 180, the wheel can be adjusted to center or can be corrected at the alignment shop. Thanks for all the advice.
You can't just flip or turn the rag joint a half turn,the steering box has a flat spot on it that has to line up with the rag joint and the bolts in the rag joint will only fit the column one way without modification.
