Rag joint to steering column attachement, ? weld versus ????

cdherman · Post by **cdherman** » November 11, 2007, 3:06 pm

OK this is more of general opinion question. As part of my swap to a PS steering, I have a shorter shaft from a 71. The bottom of the shaft has the top 1/2 of the rag joint attached to it.

Well, that top 1/2 "flange" of the rag joint is a little loose on my shaft. Now, it appears that the flange was not welded at ll, but instead the shaft and flange had splines. The shaft appears to have extended a little out of the bottom of the flange and then it was "swaged" or heated up and "mushroomed", so that the flange would not come off.

I am tempted to heat up the bottom the shaft and when its red hot, beat it with an appropriate sized punch to expand the end of the shaft back up and tighten the flange back up.

Does anyone see a problem here? Metal fatigue? Seems that there would be no more danger of that then would occur if I tried to weld it.

Heating it up and beating it just seems too easy somehow.....

Garbz · Post by **Garbz** » November 11, 2007, 6:04 pm

Dave

I would just hit it with the MIG.... Not sure what the cherry red would do to the rockwell temper?

Garbz

66fordtrucknut · Post by **66fordtrucknut** » November 11, 2007, 6:17 pm

I shortened mine and welded it, no prob.
Charlie

6166 Junkyard Dog · Post by **6166 Junkyard Dog** » November 11, 2007, 7:13 pm

ONE PROBLEM Is the shaft at the top is going to have to be cut some since your stock wheel will fit but the horn ring will not cut about 1/4 of threads with that little stub on it

cdherman · Post by **cdherman** » November 12, 2007, 7:24 am

Already have the shaft shortened on the top.

Yeah, heating might change the temper. But a weld can fail. I figure there was a reason why FoMoCo didn't weld them in the first place......

Suppose in the end, either option will work.