When I got my 40, it had already started being stripped down for rebuild. The steering column was in a box in the back....
I was trying to install it today, and I'm running into a problem. When I slide it into position, the end of the steering shaft bottoms out on the input shaft of the gearbox before the sheet metal boot makes contact with the firewall. There's about 3/8" gap all around the boot. I tried taking the rag joint off completely, and it still bottoms out on the end of the shaft with a gap at the bottom. Stock steering column, stock steering box.
I don't want to run the screws down, since it will put a lot of load on the bearing up by the steering wheel.
Has anyone run into this before?
The only thing I could think of is if the body was shifted forward, but nothing looks bent, and the body mounts appear to be in the center of the mounting pads on the frame.
Any ideas???
I was trying to install it today, and I'm running into a problem. When I slide it into position, the end of the steering shaft bottoms out on the input shaft of the gearbox before the sheet metal boot makes contact with the firewall. There's about 3/8" gap all around the boot. I tried taking the rag joint off completely, and it still bottoms out on the end of the shaft with a gap at the bottom. Stock steering column, stock steering box.
I don't want to run the screws down, since it will put a lot of load on the bearing up by the steering wheel.
Has anyone run into this before?
The only thing I could think of is if the body was shifted forward, but nothing looks bent, and the body mounts appear to be in the center of the mounting pads on the frame.
Any ideas???