Here's another concept for keeping those @#&* square headed bolts seated in their slots when reassembling the 60's steering columns. It worked for me and it might be of help for you.
I used a dab of hot melt glue to temporarily fasten the bolt heads into their slots in the steering column tube. Admittedly, it took me three tries to get the bolts oriented precisely so that they would line up with the holes in the upper collar housing, but the whole process was only a few minutes and the assembly was back together. By its nature, the hot melt glue holds the bolt heads to the column only temporarily, but gives the bolts some flexibility to align them into the appropriate holes.
And, as they say, your mileage may vary.
Square headed steering column bolt solution
Moderator: redstangbob
- Lee Craner
- Posts: 116
- Joined: Sat May 04, 2019 11:42 pm
- Location: Las Vegas, NV
Square headed steering column bolt solution
Lee
1965 Red Thunderbird Convertible
1973 Intermeccanica Squire SS-100
1956 Continental Mark II
1965 Red Thunderbird Convertible
1973 Intermeccanica Squire SS-100
1956 Continental Mark II
Re: Square headed steering column bolt solution
Excellent
There can never be too much brainstorming on this particular headache.
There can never be too much brainstorming on this particular headache.
Paul
VTCI 12014
Registry 45122
'64 Landau HT
"Beer, now there's a temporary solution!" ~Homer Simpson
VTCI 12014
Registry 45122
'64 Landau HT
"Beer, now there's a temporary solution!" ~Homer Simpson
Re: Square headed steering column bolt solution
I stuck my bolts in the collar and stuffed a piece of paper towel between the threads and the collar housing to push the square head slightly away from the hole that it goes into... and then put it together. When you pull the paper towel out it goes right in and then you tighten it down.
It worked twice on the first try.
It worked twice on the first try.