Well i looked back into the steering wheel gap issue and i think i solved it, i removed the steering wheel and and noticed a 3/4 inch long by 7/8 inch diameter coller resting on top of the upper steering column bearing retainer snap ring that should not have been there and was most likley put there by me 10 years ago by mistake, the steering wheel was not loose with this coller in-between it and the upper bearing snap ring but the gap was 1/4 inch wide ,after removing the coller the gap is now 1/8 inch wide and looking and working normal, also there was no lock washer under the upper steering wheel retainer nut, should there be one ? , thanks for all the input . chuck.