Yep.

RwP

 

Thinking the intermediate shaft can’t be reinstalled in the pinion if the rack is secured to the frame. No?

 

On YOURS it's supposed to be collapsible - instructions in the FSM include "Slide the bottom half up" (not an exact quote!)

This started with the minor redesign for 1991.

On MINE, yah, it's ... difficult.

But that's why I'm waiting on the collapsible intermediate shaft; if it can be trimmed to fit, then there's a solution right there for the older 1st Gens!

RwP

 

Hmmm. Collapseable. I was just looking at it earlier and didn’t see anything that suggested it was collapseable. But now that I think about it, maybe it is. Seems to me I saw a vid not long ago where the guy was showing it being collapseable. That was on a late 90s Dakota I believe. I’ll have to look again. Interesting.

Steering column parts don’t appear to be easy to find. Might be a good pick n pull candidate. Guess that’s why it’s on your list.

 

Actually, the intermediate shaft isn't on my PnP list; I've got a new one ordered from Classic Performance, but I currently have one I made from CPP parts back in ... dang, 2016.

That's also when I installed the RackDoctor rack.

December 2017, last week. That's ... interesting.

I don't think my shaft is bad; but it's a right pain to get in and out due to not being collapsable (the steering column is where the collapse is on an early 1st Gen); so I'm doing the Camaro shaft to see if that does better (also adds a rag joint; U-joints both sides sounds good, but on our Louisiana roads, it can flat wear your hands out ... )

RwP

 

So you have a new r&p on the way or you’re close to ordering one?

 

Ordered, but they're running behind.

Ditto for the intermediate shaft and upper U-joint.

Looks like it'll be a January job for me to do that, at this rate.

Maybe February.

RwP

 

So this is a rebuilt I assume. Have you considered rebuilding your own?

 

Heh. Nope, never been that drunk


Some things I gladly do myself. Some things I do myself because I'm cheap, or I don't trust others. Some things I don't trust MYSELF to do all that right. And then there's professionals.

I live by Pournelle's Law (or was it Niven's Law?) "Either learn to do it yourself, or open your wallet, let the professional do it, and keep nodding your head yes and smiling until they get done. You don't like his price? Do it yourself!"

The rack rebuild falls into the "I don't have the parts to do it right, so I'll pay someone. And the price isn't bad."

RwP

 

I don’t even have to play the vudeo. I know what he says and I live by his advice more than ever.

Just got done watching a Clint movie tonight. Changeling. Creepy, but very good.

I will say, I don’t really enjoy working on cars or trucks. I do it for many of the reasons you raise. Mostly $ and I don’t trust anyone. It’s a tossup between the two. A close third is many “pros” do not know what they’re doing. My wife asked ne tonight why I don’t hire a mechanic to install my body mounts.

Think about it Ralph. Do you think there are many mechanics out there who could do MY cab mounts better than me? Even as amateurish as I am? I’ve concluded I know my truck better than 95% of the mechanics out there.

Well, you can always add more PS fluid till to get your r&p.