Hi Gang, I have a '78 Malibu with the splined steering column, so I can't upgrade the steering shaft. I got a new 800 series gearbox from a friend to replace the old leaking 605. Its got a 31 spline with flat input shaft. I bought a lares 201 rag joint, which might not rub on the frame (but it might). The big problem is that the coupler is the 3 1/4 diameter size, and the car originally had the 2 3/4 size. So the rag joint won't fit the end of the steering shaft. The bolt holes on the end of the shaft aren't wide enough apart to fit the new coupler.
I'm not sure what to do at this point. If I bought a new gearbox from summit, I think I will still have the same problem, because the spline count on the stock rag joint doesn't match the count on the input shaft of the new box. In order to get the right one, I would have to get the 3 1/4 inch rag joint, and I would be right back where I started. Is there some sort of adapter I could put on the end of the shaft to get the bigger rag joint to fit? The flange at the end of the intermediate shaft looks like it's pressed on. Can I replace that with a bigger one? It seems like the universe doesn't want me to drive this car (or at least steer it anyway). What's this part called, and can I swap it out?
I'm not sure what to do at this point. If I bought a new gearbox from summit, I think I will still have the same problem, because the spline count on the stock rag joint doesn't match the count on the input shaft of the new box. In order to get the right one, I would have to get the 3 1/4 inch rag joint, and I would be right back where I started. Is there some sort of adapter I could put on the end of the shaft to get the bigger rag joint to fit? The flange at the end of the intermediate shaft looks like it's pressed on. Can I replace that with a bigger one? It seems like the universe doesn't want me to drive this car (or at least steer it anyway). What's this part called, and can I swap it out?