This subject popped up over on the SAAC site and I thought we should share it with the members here. Initial question was basically, on what date was the change over from solid steering column to rag joint style in 67 at San Jose
Back ground - There were two different styles of steering columns installed in Mustangs and Shelby's during the production year. There was the solid style, often referred to as the "early" style which looked line a 66 column at the attachment point to the steering box
And the rag joint style, often referred to as the "later" style since it looked, at the steering box end, like the 68 and up style
Or understanding made sense at the time - "early" ones looked like the prior year and "later" ones looked like the following year.
Well it appears that this understanding was incorrect. Now this look into the usage has been focused only on San Jose Mustangs so far, the other two plants have not been included. Looking at my collection of pictures and others sharing what they found on their cares here is what we seem to have discovered
Appears that both the solid and rag joints were used through out the 67 production year at San Jose (last solid usage example mid July) so at this point IMHO its not an early/late feature at this plant.
Still have the Shelby pictures to go through - another 500 or so cars) but thought I would start with the Mustangs. Did ignore all restored cars (only have a few Mustangs that way in the collection) and will do so also for the Shelby's.
So far all big block cars that I could make out clearly the steering shaft were the rag joint style. Most of the other engines receive the solid. I do have a few cars in mid spring (non big block at also have rag joints)
So not perfectly defined in every example but the conclusion appears IMHO at this point to be sound. If you have an original steering box in your 67 I invite you to add yours to the survey
