I'm still messing with my steering shaft issue, for those that may have seen it before. I now need to know (have been asked by suppliers) if my column has been shortened, since this is a common thing, I guess. Aside from obvious hacking and such, what is the bast way to know if it is stock length? I assume mine is stock by looking at the bottom end, but maybe they get cut at the top? Dunno.....
Mine is slightly over 30" top to bottom, (30 5/16" ). Is that stock?
A stock 56 column is 32 9/16" the way you measured.
FYI, aftermarket columns are often measured from the lower end of the shaft to the top of the turn signal housing.
I have been on the topic of the steering box and column for this '56. I have the column and shaft that were on the car removed. It appears the shaft was a home modified shaft, welded to a rag joint shaft donor (junk yard part?). I had been trying to understand the Column, and was confused. I now believe the column is NOT a '56 Chevy column, and want your comments. Looking at the bottom end, it does not have the 3 bolts I see in other photos for a '56 column. This may be why I am confused. It has some kind of snap ring retainer at the bottom. The project is stalled, and I am wasting the summer!
I am now thinking to replace the Rag joint, shaft, and Column, (I'd like to keep an OEM look). Of course the first question is what box is in the car. I believe it to be a CPP box, as it has 5006 cast on it, but the 6 is ? in the casting. It is also stamped with 1506 911. photos attached. Is this a CPP box? There seems to be several box revisions from them.
Here is what started the whole thing, Loose steering wheel!!
Which then "exposed", the ugly Rag joint, .........and the ???Column.
Kind of a Bag-A-Worms.
What shaft is on the box, splined or DD or something else? I think it's a Borgeson also.
That's not a stock column. The shift indicator is on the collar/turn signal housing and it has a bearing at the bottom held by that clip. I suspect a 80's truck or van column.
You may be able to get a new shaft and a compatible rag joint to fit both, but you'll have to figure what length shaft you can use. http://www.classicchevy.com/chevy-s...ox-with-shortened-stock-column-1955-1957.html
cpp500 Series box (6eries) column looks to be original with mods to the bottom and the shift indicator added. A new shaft and rag joint and you should be good if your shifter was working OK GOOD LUCK Jim
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