Topic: Steering tube clamp details

[Bossbill]

I was looking for the correct finishes on the brake support studs and nuts to which the steering tube U-clamp is attached.

I finally decided on natural on both as this pic from the shop manual attests.

What is odd is that the U-clamp does not use a washer under the nut. The marks on my clamp support no washer although an NPD repro specifies a washer, a cad nut and phosphate stud.

One would think in this critical area that more support would be nice, but this is the second resource showing no washer.

I'm wondering what others have found.

[J_Speegle]

Here is a unrestored example from Dec 66 and San Jose to provide you with an example close to your cars build period and plant





Another interesting detail that you will not likely see on restored cars in the inner tube (visible through that orientation slot at the bottom of the picture) is unpainted. Most of the time, during restoration this is painted along with the outer tube

Sine you've been doing so much detail work would mention that the steering columns also were date (ink) stamped as a sub assembly by the provider of the tube, bell and trunk indicator siring it appears. But that's another subject 

[Bossbill]

I didn't think you'd have have a picture, but boom. I'm wrong again.

Neat detail on the tube. I haven't looked at mine in a while as it still has original paint and I wanted to restore it later when I go to paint the rest of the interior.

[preaction]

The nuts are S8 zinc plated.

[Bossbill]

The nuts are S8 zinc plated.

On your signature car?

I took these nuts and lightly media blasted them and then into the acid. Cad or zinc -- even small amounts of it -- fizzle in acid. I got nothing.

But Jeff's pic sure makes it look like zinc.

[preaction]

Bill, I always thought they were cadmium plated because they always seemed to have a different appearence than zinc but the S8 reference is from the assembly manual.

[jwc66k]

There's a couple of pieces, a rubber insulator, and a paper insulator, that are not documented for steering column attachment. They are shown in the 75 Ford Car Parts (aka MPC) Illustration Section 35 pg 4 for 64-65 Mustangs as separate pieces, and shown attached for 67 on page 5. These are the horseshoe shaped column clamp, 3668, and the bracket at the lower edge of the dash for the column, 3676. The 64-65 and the 67 Chassis manuals also shows them as attached. The 60-68 and 75 MPC calls them "Assemblies", which implies the rubber and paper were supplied attached to their metal counterparts. These two pieces have a nasty habit of disintegrating and/or coming loose at the wrong times.
Attached are some sketches and pictures of these items. The rubber piece is documented for both 64-66 and 67, the paper piece is for 64-66 use, but is similar to the 67 requirement, the 67 piece is larger. (I didn't make a drawing because we reused the old paper piece.) The pictures show the differences. The originals are dated July 1995.
Jim

[J_Speegle]

I didn't think you'd have have a picture, but boom. I'm wrong again.

Yes had over 100 examples with that area in the shadows or view blocked because of angle. Not like any normal person would be taking pictures of that area if they were posting typical pictures to the internet, to document other details or in sales ads. Happened to be a set I took and was focusing on the date stamp and caught the details you needed so POW lol you get your shot

Having the shot was one thing. Finding it .....well that's the "fun" part - 100 GB and approx 200K pictures and counting

Neat detail on the tube. I haven't looked at mine in a while as it still has original paint and I wanted to restore it later when I go to paint the rest of the interior.

Try and toss in short & quick additional details - without getting off thread too much - helps others I hope

[Bossbill]

Bill, I always thought they were cadmium plated because they always seemed to have a different appearence than zinc but the S8 reference is from the assembly manual.

I went to the Shop Manual since I couldn't find find it in any assembly manual page. Took a while tonight since it's buried in the Chassis manual on pg 46 and shows it as a 55802-S8.
Thanks, I missed that!

Jim -- Thanks for the details on those pieces. That helps a lot.

Jeff -- It's always amazing the angles of the shots you get. I'll look for a date on the column.

Looks like the nut goes in the zinc pile!

[Blue_67_Fastback]

Hallo All,
regarding the paper and rubber insulator.
Here?s a picture of my clamp.
Hopefully this helps.
Enno

[Bossbill]

It's interesting that the upper clamp is semi gloss  black. That's a good shot of the paper backing and its color.

And we can see that the saddle clamp was fully painted the interior color.

Great details, Enno.