<VV> steering options

[Kent Sullivan]

Mark and all,

I installed a '67 column in my '66 500 coupe, as many of you know. I
carefully looked through the '67 assembly manual and through the compilation
of service bulletins that Clark's offers, and I remember that there was a
follow-up bulletin with specific procedures that need to be followed in
order to not induce premature failure of the joint in the '67 column. I
don't have that reference material here with me in the house, so I don't
have the specifics at hand.

Point being though that the '67-9 column is a bit trickier to get installed
correctly. Not impossible at all, but requires that a specific procedure be
followed lest something bad happen down the road. So if a person were used
to working with '66 and earlier columns, they should be aware of this.

--Kent
-----Original Message-----
From: virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org
[mailto:virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org] On Behalf Of airvair at earthlink.net
Sent: Friday, February 26, 2010 1:37 PM
To: Crawford Rose; Virtualvairs at Corvair. Org
Subject: Re: <VV> steering options

Crawford,

I speak from experience. The Corvair is a very simple car to restore. I've
had my '69 down to the last nut and bolt, including the steering column. I
restored it from the pavement up, and have started on another car. You
simply don't need a Larry Claypool or other "professional" mechanic to
properly install a steering column. You simply need to know what you're
doing, and a little mechanical ability. How do you think Larry became as
good as he is? Same way I have, experience. Working on Corvairs is not
rocket science. 

As far as the steering column goes, on a '67-9 column, there's three bolts
on the floor, three on the bottom of the dash, and the pot joint coupler to
contend with, along with the wiring plug. Anyone with a set of wrenches and
20 minutes can have one out in that time. Installation is just as easy. So
don't be afraid of it. Check the factory repair manual if you don't believe
me.

-Mark

> [Original Message]
> From: Crawford Rose <crawfordrose at msn.com>
> Subject: <VV> steering options
>
> I reject your arguments, Mark. I would not trust the average corvair guy
with a steering column seeing the other ingen-eered solutions that I
frequently see in our cars - including real world problems associated with
this particular installation by well-qualified corvair owners.  In fact,
for the rest of you, if you even dream of making this conversion, please
farm it out to a professional like Larry Claypool or someone nearer to you
who is qualified to do so.  I think that if I learned that someone added
the tele column to a Corsa that I was looking at, I'd be annoyed that I
would have to pay to make sure it was installed properly.
>
> Crawford