Column Change Installation

I think I already know the answer to this one, but just in case I have overlooked something.

My Jeep body is from MD Juan, long story but the original one was long gone when I got the CJ.

On this body the upper steering column brace is riveted to the dash panel, this is all very well until you try to fit the column change unit which of course goes just above this bracket.

Are original CJ-2A (VEC) riveted or bolted here, as it appears I have to drill the rivets out to be able to install the column change assembly.....I have already stripped it down but for the life of me can not get it to sit in the correct location as its impossible for the shifter end to fit down through the gap above the bracket and the same if you try to offer it up through the floor.

There is just not enough space to move the thing around to walk it through the gap above the bracket

The gear lever mount bracket will not clear the space available and the shifter end lever is the same, the main dog clutch housing is already removed from the end of it, so its just the remaining bits causing me grief, I machined up a new operating pin which I have already welded in place, so I don;t want to drill the weld out and remove the lever and then assemble it again  

If the originals brackets are bolted,, WHY do they rivet it on??????

Thanks and hope someone can help

Adrian  

 

try searching, there was a thread on this a few years ago....

 

and it is the tranny hump area of the mdjuan tubs that is incorrect.....they are not high enough to clear the trannys, especially the column shift trannys that have the vent plug, and the humps are installed farther to the driver side than an original tub.....

 

good luck....

Its the steering column bracket that is the holdup at the moment,   Having never seen an origianl VEC, only photos I can only imagine the upper bracket was bolted, for some reason on my MD Juan body its got heavy rivets and they would be no problem at all with a floor shift model, but they appear to be the issue with my one as its a column shift/

The body has been painted, so I need to carefully drill the rivets to make the bracket removeable.

Wish i had know about it prior to the paint going on...

Thanks

Adrian    

Adrian

On s/n 15363 the steering column bracket is bolted onto the bottom of the dash. It is a two part bracket, the upper bolts to the dash and the lower, holding the steering column to the upper bracket, is bolted to the upper bracket. Both take a 1/2 inch wrench/spanner. 

To put it another way, the shifting column goes over the upper bracket and the steering column goes between the two. Both are bolted on, no rivets.

Luke

Thanks for all your help. I drilled out the incorrect rivets and once the upper steering brace was removable I was able to get the column shift all fitted up.

Its now bolted to the dash panel.....

Just another one of the niggles with the MD body, if anybody wants me to make up a list of faults I have found then let me know, it may save some headaches for others when fitting one of these tubs etc.n  Its nothing major but the sort of thing you need to correct before painting ideally.

Adrian