We will install the steering shaft the same way we build our Chirco Dune Buggies. The only difference is that we have a front firewall to go through.
A piece of tubing was cut and tacked to the roll cage just below the dash to mount our steering bearing to. The steering bearing that will be used is a very simple but effective item. It is just a six inch piece of tubing that has a brass bushing at each end, and two side plates that match up to the 1 1/2 tubing. The brass bushings needed to be reamed a bit so the steering shaft would fit properly through it.
It is time to make the first section of the two piece shaft. A piece of the tubing was run through the steering bearing to visualize the length we needed from the steering wheel to the first u-joint. Then we welded in a steering spline. The tubing we use allows us to insert the spline inside the tubing before we weld it in to ensure it is straight. Then we welded on the quick disconnect fitting to the other side of the tubing.
With the steering wheel on, we ran the shaft back through the bearing and attached our first u-joint to the splined shaft.
We were able to set a Beard Super seat inside at the right height to verify that the angle of the steering bearing was correct.
Once we determined that the angle was fine, it was time to finish the shaft. We made a new hole in the front firewall where the second part of the shaft would go through.
.A u-joint was placed on the steering rack and one spline was welded on the second shaft. It was run from the inside of the car through the firewall into the u-joint. We were then able to see how long it needed to be.
We cut the tubing and welded on the steering spline. It was then attached to the first u-joint and Wah-lah!!! "Houston, we have steering."
Nothing was tightened up because we are taking the body back off.
If you have any questions or comments about Chirco's Project Baja please e-mail don@chirco.com we sure would like to hear from you.
