1973 Gremlin Project.... "The Demise of Sanity"

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   The pins are part of the collapsible system, but the only issue you'll have if they are gone is that the shaft may slip out when installing or removing. Most are a snug fit -- especially after years of sitting in the same place. All they do is keep it from slipping while assembling. As long as there is enough overlap between the two shafts (you're only moving it about 1/4") you will be fine. If you go to pull the column later you might pull the shaft out, but simply put it back together. 

I don't recall if my late 80s GM column had them or not. Hmm... it's a short column with an intermediate shaft, so it doesn't have pins in the column. I think the intermediate shaft did, though it has a sort of "leaf spring" tensioner inside... it may not have. I had to pull the shaft apart and shorten it about an inch to make it fit. I don't recall 100% if there was a plastic pin, but I think so... could be confusing with other column work though, I put that one in back in 2003...

Edited by farna - Oct/08/2019 at 6:21am

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farna Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Supporter of TheAMCForum Moderator Lost Dealership Project Joined: Jul/08/2007 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 19676	Post Options Post Reply Quote farna Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Oct/08/2019 at 6:18am
	The pins are part of the collapsible system, but the only issue you'll have if they are gone is that the shaft may slip out when installing or removing. Most are a snug fit -- especially after years of sitting in the same place. All they do is keep it from slipping while assembling. As long as there is enough overlap between the two shafts (you're only moving it about 1/4") you will be fine. If you go to pull the column later you might pull the shaft out, but simply put it back together. I don't recall if my late 80s GM column had them or not. Hmm... it's a short column with an intermediate shaft, so it doesn't have pins in the column. I think the intermediate shaft did, though it has a sort of "leaf spring" tensioner inside... it may not have. I had to pull the shaft apart and shorten it about an inch to make it fit. I don't recall 100% if there was a plastic pin, but I think so... could be confusing with other column work though, I put that one in back in 2003... Edited by farna - Oct/08/2019 at 6:21am
	Frank Swygert

BrotherBamc Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Supporter of TheAMCForum Joined: Jan/22/2009 Location: Lewiston Status: Offline Points: 2248	Post Options Post Reply Quote BrotherBamc Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Oct/09/2019 at 5:14pm
	Well... That isn't going to work. That shaft will not come out. I've used heat, PB blaster and everything that I could think of. Even drilled what was left of the pins out. If I go any farther I will break it. Back to square one..
	77 CJ5 360 73 Gremlin 401 4 speed 2006 Dodge Magnum R/T AWD My Garage

BMOgremlin Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Nut Joined: Sep/01/2019 Location: Deer Park washi Status: Offline Points: 285	Post Options Post Reply Quote BMOgremlin Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Oct/09/2019 at 5:42pm
	Depending on how much difference there is between the two the only other thing i can think of many try elongating the holes that hold the mount bracket on the column so that it slides up and down a bit. That might give you a little more play so it bolts up.

BrotherBamc Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Supporter of TheAMCForum Joined: Jan/22/2009 Location: Lewiston Status: Offline Points: 2248	Post Options Post Reply Quote BrotherBamc Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Oct/09/2019 at 10:42pm
	Sometimes, a bigger hammer isn't the cure... Sometimes, it's a bigger torch...!! And reading a few threads on steering columns.. We shall return to regular programing/battles in a few...
	77 CJ5 360 73 Gremlin 401 4 speed 2006 Dodge Magnum R/T AWD My Garage

BMOgremlin Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Nut Joined: Sep/01/2019 Location: Deer Park washi Status: Offline Points: 285	Post Options Post Reply Quote BMOgremlin Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Oct/09/2019 at 11:17pm
	Awesome glad to see it did come apart. You will have it all back together in no time. For me when things wont come apart or go back together and i am at the point when i am gonna brake something its time to go in the house and relax for a spell. Come back out in a while and right apart.

BrotherBamc Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Supporter of TheAMCForum Joined: Jan/22/2009 Location: Lewiston Status: Offline Points: 2248	Post Options Post Reply Quote BrotherBamc Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Oct/10/2019 at 1:50am
	That's what I did.. kind of. Walked away from it and found out why I couldn't get it apart. and how to get it apart.
	77 CJ5 360 73 Gremlin 401 4 speed 2006 Dodge Magnum R/T AWD My Garage

farna Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Supporter of TheAMCForum Moderator Lost Dealership Project Joined: Jul/08/2007 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 19676	Post Options Post Reply Quote farna Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Oct/10/2019 at 7:19am
	Just a little rust there.... Well, after it's cleaned and has a little oil on it it will slip right back in! No need to sorry about the pins, but you could use a piece of wire or a cotter pin in one of them to keep it together if necessary. Would shear off easy enough in a wreck.
	Frank Swygert

BrotherBamc Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Supporter of TheAMCForum Joined: Jan/22/2009 Location: Lewiston Status: Offline Points: 2248	Post Options Post Reply Quote BrotherBamc Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Oct/11/2019 at 1:17am
	Just a little rust. Back to normal AMC broadcasting materials... Finished up the rag-joint and made a ground wire for it. I couldn't find the right size crush washers in my wonderful hole in the ground town. See pics for reference.. The banjo joints that I got from Speedway came with aluminum and I just throw them in the trash. NAPA wanted 1.99 a piece and didn't have them in stock. Amazon prime, 20 for 9.99. I got mail this afternoon and finished the front brake lines tonight. Hopefully we will have more progress tomorrow.
	77 CJ5 360 73 Gremlin 401 4 speed 2006 Dodge Magnum R/T AWD My Garage

BrotherBamc Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Supporter of TheAMCForum Joined: Jan/22/2009 Location: Lewiston Status: Offline Points: 2248	Post Options Post Reply Quote BrotherBamc Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Oct/12/2019 at 2:30am
	My friend Gary came over this morning and we stabbed the column in. The ground wire I had made was too big and didn't fit. He then helped me bleed the front brakes. The new banjo fittings were the trick and the brakes are buttoned up and good to go. I was trying to figure out a way to keep the fuel line off the top of the manifold. I used the bottom hole on the throttle bracket and ran a small spring through it. Used a piece of wire to hold the fuel line. It works really well for now. We will see if I have to add a stronger spring when we add the weight of fuel. Went through and tightened all the fuel fittings and lines again. Put in the last piece of the puzzle in the motor compartment. And that was a NOS V-8 throttle cable. It was one of the very first things that I had purchased for the car. That would of been around 2004 or so. Fit perfect and took me less then a minute to put on. Put the air cleaner back and I was all excited to hook things up under the dash and with the steering column. Still wasn't done with the AMC drama with the steering column. AMC must of changed the to a different plug for the turn signal switch. The one on the newer column wouldn't fit the plug from the main wiring harness. So, I had to rob Peter from Paul again. The old plug is also a little bit shorter the newer one and the zip tie holds it pretty well. Getting really close now to waking the beast out of it's slumber..
	77 CJ5 360 73 Gremlin 401 4 speed 2006 Dodge Magnum R/T AWD My Garage

mrblatzman Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Addicted Joined: Oct/01/2008 Location: Alabama CSA Status: Offline Points: 2155	Post Options Post Reply Quote mrblatzman Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Oct/12/2019 at 7:27am
	On the steering column plug...I have seen in the past a adapter piece that goes between the two and make big into small or vise-versa...Its been a long time and don't remember exactly, but maybe someone who has been working on that area of another car will chime in with some more details on this... Maybe had something to do with tilt column or non tilt column.....Looking very nice...Bob
	Thankyou....Bob