THERE’s NO comparison To . The WorlD’s largesT manufacTurer of 1955-56-57 chevroleT resToraTion parTs WINTER 2012 volume 18, issue 1 5-6-7 proDuceD by Danchuk mfg. 3201Update s. StanDarD ave., sanTa ana, CAlifornia 92705 in This ISSUE: UniSteer Rack and Pinion Install • rack anD pinion insTall Note: This article is condensed for You will require some special tools that inclusion in our newsletter. We also most don’t have in their toolbox. These can • DOOR anD WinDoW SPECIALS cover the modification of the original be purchased, or they can be rented, from column and an installation of an Ididit most automotive parts stores. • 1BAD57 FOR YOUR READing PLEASURE column in this article. You can download • glass ON SALE!! the entire PDF Tech Article that includes Tools you will need: large photos from our website. Just • 3/8" and 1/2" Drive Ratchets go to our homepage www.danchuk. • 1/2", 3/4", 7/8", 1-1/4" - 1/2" and 9/16" - 3/8" com and click on Downloads and then Drive Sockets message from The click on Tech Articles. Click the 18.1 – • 1/2", 9/16", 5/8" and 11/16" general manager 1955 – 1957 UniSteer Rack and Pinion Open End Wrenches Installation link to download the PDF. • 5/8" and 11/16" Flare Nut Wrenches Happy New Year! I hope • 3/16" and 1/4" Clutch Head Screwdrivers yours was as fun and safe as mine. Recently we received some questions • 4mm, 3/32" and 5/32" Allen Wrenches thru Trifive.com regarding the use of an • #2 Phillips Screwdriver 2012 promises to be an original column shift steering column with • 1/4” Drill Bit (Supplied with kit) extremely exciting year a UniSteer Rack and Pinion conversion. • 1/2” Electric Drill or Equivalent for Danchuk and all our customers. Not only do As this is a very popular conversion, we • Flat Metal File we have a large quantity thought a tech article would help clear up • Hacksaw or Equivalent of projects upcoming some confusion. • Hammer and in the works but the • Pickle Fork show season is knocking on all our doors. By March the shows are in full swing and the real We think you will be surprised at how easy • Pitman Arm Puller fun begins. We’ll do our part to have everything this installation really is. The UniSteer kit • Sandpaper you need available for your restoration dreams, is impeccably engineered and it is the only • Steering Wheel Puller the rest is up to you. rack and pinion on the market with the • Round Metal File Most of you know that in recent years we have correct steering geometry for the classic • Inch-Pound Torque Wrench made huge changes to better an already great Chevy suspension. In fact, cutting down the • Foot-Pound Torque Wrench system here at Danchuk. We’ve added a second column and trimming the steering shaft are shipping hub in Indiana to speed up and cut the hardest parts, everything else is a bolt costs for deliveries to you. We’ve initiated better policies for important things to the consumer like in…check it out. Note: The car we used had already been price and quality guarantees, free catalogs, a converted to a 500 Series power steering top notch returns policy and of course our never Danchuk Part Numbers You Will Need: box, so our power steering pump had been ending dedication to manufacturing products for your cars in the United States of America! We’ve • #12572 or 12572A Rack and Pinion Kit installed and the column had already been always taken our customer service very serious • #15405 Patriot Headers replaced. We reused some existing parts. and we always will. (or header with similar tube configuration) Also, this article, and the UniSteer kit, • #12573 or 12573A covers SMALL BLOCK CHEVY with side Check out the inside pages to get some Steering Column U-Joint Kit mount applications only. You can use this great deals on door and window accessories (depending on the column you are using) including all glass, our Rack and Pinion install system with a Big Block; see the UniSteer article and all the products we offer for them and • #12574 Power Steering Hose Kit installation sheet, Step 1, for more details. of course our cool customer’s ride. • #10148 Power Steering Pump (or equivalent 1100 PSI, .5 gallon per minute Please follow along with us this year and see flow rate pump) and suitable power steering all the exciting things I’ve promised come to fruition. pump brackets to fit your installation. • #10178 or 10179 Steering Column Floor Mount Happy Restoring, (if you are planning on modifying and using the original column). Steve Brown Danchuk . “There’s no comparison” 1 UniSteer Rack and Pinion Abridged Install all T ins inion inion p D an RACK First, we need to remove the existing steering linkage. The linkage will be removed in one piece from the car. Next, we need to remove the existing steering box. We will cover 1.) Remove the cotter pins from the tie rod ends and with your 11/16" the removal of a stock box first; if you have already converted to a open-end wrench, remove the castle nuts. Wedge the pickle fork 605/500 box go to step 8. between the steering arm and the tie rod end and tap the end of the pickle fork with the hammer to dislodge the tie rod end from 6.) Remove the horn ring cap with your 1/4" clutch head or Phillips the steering arm. Images 1 & 2. head screwdriver. Remove the steering wheel nut with your 3/4" socket and 1/2" drive ratchet. Use the steering wheel puller to 2.) With your 1-1/4" socket and 1/2" ratchet, remove the pitman remove the steering wheel. (We didn’t need the puller for our wheel.) arm nut. Attach your pitman arm puller and remove the pitman Images 10, 11, 12 & 13. arm from the original steering box. (If your car has original power steering you will also remove the power steering fluid hoses from the power steering pump at this time.) Images 3 & 4. 7.) With your 9/16" socket and 3/8" ratchet unbolt the steering box from the frame. The steering shaft is connected to the stock box and runs up the column to the steering wheel. Once the box is loose, pull down and forward (away from the column) to remove the steering box/shaft assembly and set it aside. (Our car was already converted to a 3.) Unbolt the idler 500 box, so the picture of the arm from the frame shaft coming out of the column using your 9/16" is only of the shaft with a rag open end wrench joint on the end…but you get the and your 9/16"socket idea.) Images 14 & 15. and 3/8" ratchet. Images 5 & 6. 4.) Remove the steering linkage and set aside. Image 7. 5.) Using your 5/8" and 11/16" open-end wrenches, unbolt the steering 8.)To remove a 605/500 box, first remove the hoses from the box arms from the spindles. Retain the bolts and nuts. Images 8 & 9. using your 5/8" and 11/16" flare nut wrenches. Loosen the rag joint from the 605/500 box. Then, using your 9/16" socket and 3/8" 2 (800) 648-4728 • www.Danchuk.com See Website for Unabridged Install ratchet, unbolt the box from the r frame; pull the box away from ack an the column to unhook the rag joint. Remove the box and set aside. Images 16, 17 & 18. D p If you are not removing or inion modifying the column, skip to Step 22 for a stock column or Step 29 for an Ididit column, and install Now we can install the rack and pinion into the car. The unit comes ins the upper u-joint. (Steps 14-29 are included in the unabridged, installed on the bracket. If yours did not, follow the instructions T downloadable article which is available on our website) supplied with the unit, Step 3A, on how to mount it to the brackets. all Image 60. 9.) Remove the tension spring and seat from the steering shaft. Disconnect and remove the neutral safety switch, if you have an automatic transmission, or the backup light switch, if you have a manual transmission. Disconnect the horn and turn signal wiring from under the dash. Image 19. 30.) There are three holes on the driver side of the bracket and two on the passenger side that will line up with the holes in the frame for the old steering box and idler arm assembly. Lift up the rack and line the holes in the frame up with those in the bracket. Run the mounting bolts supplied with the kit through the holes from the outside of the frame and attach the nuts. Using your 10.) With your 3/16" clutch head or Phillips screwdriver remove the 9/16" open-end wrench, 9/16" socket and 3/8" ratchet, tighten the lower column cover. Image 20. nuts. With your torque wrench, torque the nuts to 28 foot-pounds. Images 61, 62 & 63. 11.) Remove the 2 nuts holding the upper column clamp from the dash with your 1/2" socket and 3/8" ratchet. Image 21. 12.) Remove the 2 bolts holding the column floor mount to the floor with your 1/2" open end wrench and remove the shift linkage from the shift lever.