Steering coupler research help - FREE coupler clamp for info

I'm looking to nail down the different lengths of the steering column couplers. (I cant wait for Carlisle this year. I have so much research I want to do.)

This is what I think I know so far....


3" couplers used on;
All 66-73 models except 73-74 B bodies. They used a big rubber knuckle type coupler.

3-1/2" couplers used on;
74-76 A Bodies - Dart, Dart Sport, Duster, Swinger, Valiant
75-79 B Bodies - Roadrunner, Fury, Monaco, Magnum
74 E Bodies - Barracuda, Challenger
76-80 F Bodies - Aspen, Volare
77-89 M Bodies - Diplomat, Lebaron, Fifth Ave, New Yorker
74-93 Dodge D & W Series Trucks
74-93 Dodge B Series Vans


Can I get a confirmation on the length used on unmolested 73 and 74 cars because it looks like the length change to the 3-1/2" coupler happened in 1974.

I'm pretty sure manual or power has nothing to do with the length of the couple just the spline size. The manual steering spline is about an 1/8" bigger.

I'd also be interested in confirmation of coupler lengths on F bodies, M bodies and all years of Dodge trucks.

Part numbers.......

1974 3748267 3-1/2" Manual, 3748268 3-1/2" Power (87-90 all D & W truck and B van, 84-89 Chrysler, all 74 and later)

1973 3420152 3" Manual, 3420153 3" Power (these part numbers supercede early numbers below)

1966-1972 2996856 3" Manual, 2996857 3" Power

More numbers
2800741 Rubber seal (years?)
2530538 66-92 Steering Coupler Cover
2800705, 2996856, 3420152, 3579521 3" Manual Steering Coupler
2800706, 2996857, 3420153, 3579522 3" Power Steering Coupler

3748267 3-1/2" Manual Steering Coupler
3748268 3-1/2" Power Steering Coupler

86 NYer 3-1/2"(?) Coupler - #3748268

Have only heard crickets so far so I'll offer this.

I'd trade one of my stainless coupler clamps for the coupler length info from a few models.

I'd be interested in any 73 models, any 74 A or E bodies (didn't all 73 & 74 B bodies have that odd steering coupler?), any 78 models like F or M bodies, and any trucks from 65 to 93. Obviously ONLY if they have a coupler.

Post a picture here and tell me the length. Again there are 2 lengths; a 3" and a 3-1/2" version. I'm pretty certain the 3" was from 66 to 73 and the 3-1/2" was from 74 till like 93.

JUST IN CASE, I'm gonna limit this to the first 10 to 20 replies.

Jim Fillmore
Detroit Muscle Technologies

What about a 75 A body with power? I can measure my untouched car. I also bought a 3 1/2 off of ebay thinking it was for a 71 B body. Does this help?

Burdar put the word out over on the E-Bodies.org site. Hopefully we'll get you some help on the E-Body stuff. I looked in the 73 parts catalog and didn't see a listing for 2 steering shafts, so I'm thinking that it might be only a change to the height of the grease compartment of the coupler? But the question would still be, When did they change happen?

https://forum.e-bodies.org/wheels-tires-...er-length/1256/

I'd definitely be interested in the untouched 75 A body length!

And the 3-1/2" for the 71 B body is probably incorrect. PM me your address/info and I can send you the correct one. BUT, and heres the wacky part, I'm pretty sure either length will work on all these years from 66-93. The long coupling is only 1/2" longer. So you could have a long one on your 71 if it had been changed at some point in its history. I'm assuming at some point in 74 someone at Chrysler felt they needed more compliance/forgiveness in the coupling. Maybe for body flex or maybe for stack up tolerances? Anyone have any better guesses.

Thanks for the help! What swap meet next week?

Heres a picture of a long, short and early.

Heres another FYI.

This is a picture of the long, 3 shorts and the early. You can see the spline size in the top (long) and 2nd (short) are the same power steering size (approx .600"). So the difference in the length wasn't manual and power as some have suggested in other online discussions (there is SO MUCH bad information online).

The 3rd and bottom are manual steering. The spline is approx .700"

There's the big 5 day Portland Auto Swap meet. I'm just guessing, but maybe over 6,000 vendors. Takes about 4 miles to walk down each row.

https://forum.e-bodies.org/car-shows-events-and-races/21/portland-swap-meet-april-6th-9th/1175/

There's always some Mopar parts so I'll keep a look out.

Just a guess here, but I'm thinking that there may have been a design change that needed more grease capacity or maybe the suspension travel changed that required more room to move?

I would say that 73/74 they went to the rubber isolated front end, and needed the extra travel for that.

I just bought a 73 Charger that the coupler needs going through. When I get home next week I will pull the column and take some pictures and measurements for you.

I have a 73 satellite sebring I can measure today if that will help

From my 74 Charger Ralleye with power steering.
Terry

Thanks!

I thought all 73-74 B bodies got the big steering knuckle/coupler?

i have a 74 challenger work bench/storage pod/mouse home
i can check..
i just have to unload all the crap off the hood first.. lol
it is a manual steering car

75 A body power steering

Thanks!

My 71 Challenger with PS is 3".

79 B200 van, 3" coupler
85 B250 van also a 3" coupler.

Both were original 1 owner vehicles.

here is a 74 imperial coupler. it's 3 1/2". the tape is deceiving, as i was trying to get the coupler in the shot and not show the torched off box shaft. there is a rag joint connecting the coupler shaft to the column.

Wow. I woulda guessed the longer coupler.

More confirmation that 74 & up vehicles had the longer coupler.

Heres an odd one. From a friend in New Zealand with a US 75 Ramcharger. Neither the 3" or 3-1/2" but an odd looking coupler.

So cool to have Mopar friends all over the world.

Also from the Moparts Truck Forum....

"Don't forget spline diameter, trucks were typically larger since most used Saginaw boxes.
Trucks pre 80 or so tended to use Saginaw couplers vs the Mopar style."

Based on the info above that had a 3" coupler on a 79 truck, was the Saginaw coupler a 4WD thing or maybe pre 79 instead of pre 80?

74 challenger manual steering = 3 1/2

Thanks flypaper.

Nudder one. From an older Moparts coupler thread. 86 Ramcharger. Looks like a 3" coupler like the post aove that said a 79 truck and 85 van had 3" couplers.

73 Cuda 3 1/2 inches, late November, 1972 build (black Friday after Thanksgiving to be exact)
Craig

i had a 74 power wagon with that type of coupler, [it's been gone since '83] and i thought it was an extra measure to insure the shaft didn't bind during any added flex when the cab and frame moved around during off road excursions ? i never had one of those apart however, to see what was inside. if you have a rag joint, the "common" type of coupler, and the one you show in your last pic, it should add quite a bit of movement before the steering shaft would bind up. does anyone happen to have a shot of the insides of one of those joints ?

upon more reflection, that coupler might allow movement in and out to a certain degree ?

B vans are an oddity. A little bit of everything from all the parts bins. Just to add in, the vans also used the car steering box and not the saginaws found in most of the trucks.

Maybe they standardized the coupler on all models & increased its length so there was enough room to slid the shaft down to replace the rubber coupling on the models equipped with it.

My 73 was built in October. I need to check it because other 73 owners have said theirs are 3". Now I'm wondering what mine has.