Thread: American Graffiti Coupe, My Version

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Originally Posted by racerx1699

I've used the DD u-joint in the past on our race car, I have no problem just sinking the set screw into the shaft.

My next question is the length of the shaft from the firewall to the steering unit. Is it to long to go with out a support in the middle? Can anyone post pictures of theirs? I will not have any header clearance issues because they will run on the outside of the frame rail and down the side of the car.

Donnie, the only time you need an intermediate support is if you have to use a third u-joint for clearance. If you only have one at the bottom of the column and a second one at the steering box input shaft then a straight, unsupported piece of either 3/4" or 1" DD shaft is more than stiff enough. The one I'm working on now has a 1" DD column output, and the MII rack is 9/16x26 positioned out away from the frame and pointing towards the motor mount. There is no way to connect it with only two joints, so from the rack it will have a nominal 8" long 3/4"DD shaft running over to an intermediate 3/4"DD u-joint connected to a nominal 15" 3/4DD running through a 3/4" heim joint, up to a 3/4"DD to 1"DD to connect to the column. My '33 running the Vega box has a single 3/4"DD from column to box with u-joints at each end.

You're using a Unisteer, and if it's the "Street/HotRod" version that bolts to the frame like a Vega box like this

Street&HotRod Unisteer.jpg

then you will only need two joints and one connecting shaft.