Hurst Pro-Matic shifter ordered
I'm having to remove some of the peel and stick product I installed at the recommendation of a non-car guy
Its a product typically used on roof repairs. I cant tell if its a butyl based or tar so Im removing it to avoid trouble. If it is tar based I can imagine, once the firewall heats up in the typical south Florida climate, the mess Ill have melting down onto my floors.
As I'm removing it I must say it doesn't seem like a tar based product and man does it stick!

Rebuilding the steering column and I can't find the lower bearing. This bearing has water damage and is a little rough but after clean up with ospho (phosphoric acid dissolves rust) it is usable.
The column I suspect it's from a 1973 Duster floor shift. I would appreciate help in finding where to buy a new bearing or if someone makes a service kit to replace the bearing and race as an assembly would be great too. Thanks in advance.
Copper

Just some more pictures of the steering column bearing. Cast aluminum bearing race has mopar part numbers but I found nothing in my search. The race presses up into the lower most column tube, the bearing fits the steering shaft snug and the spring keeps it seated fully into the race.
Copper

More pictures. I hope someone can find and share information on this particular bearing setup.
Copper

Progress on the steering column and bearing. I adapted the lower bearing from the '73 column onto my '70 column that i'm converting to floor shift. Once I removed the column shift tube, the original bearing served no purpose.
Copper

Test fitting the column I found out several interesting things. First, the lower firewall bracket to steering column is not in a fixed point, it's adjustable! So the depth into the engine compartment of the entire column and position of the mid supports can be moved. The coupling from power steering to manual steering have different spline/shaft sizes, the manual steering box has a larger shaft so I had to change the coupling too. I tried to get a measurement to have a record for myself.
Copper

Once I have the measurement right, I have to drive the lower spring clip up to press and hold the bearing into its race at the bottom of the column. It's surprising how hard it is to move and it leaves gouge marks in the shaft too.
Copper

I temporarily installed the steering column to be able to steer the car onto the lift later for the engine/transmission/K frame re-install. The lower column only needed to be 2" into the engine compartment and now the underdash mounts are toward their extension limits. Looks much better all painted up.
Copper

Something I was doing my best to avoid but it needs to be addressed. When I pulled the original carpet out it revealed some common but bad news. Seems over the years that the a/c condensate has leaked onto the passenger floor soaking the carpet jute and rusting the floor. After removing the loose rust and applying ospho I am left with swiss cheese. I purchased a new repair panel but I don't want to use the entire section so I'm going to just remove at the marked line. Wish me luck
Copper

A patch should work. Good luck with it.

Thanks Dave
OK so I did a thing..... No turning back now
I couldn't keep a straight line to save my life using the cut off wheel and the sawzall but I got it done! I think I'm going to cut back just a bit more to make the rearmost butt weld seam land on top of the torsion bar crossmember. I will overlap the sides and forward joint 3/4" and stitch and rosette weld the new patch panel in. Too time consuming and I'm not comfortable trying to butt weld the entire panel besides it's just the floor , the only one that will see it is whoever I run over lol.
Copper

I'd buttweld it in myself even if it took a little longer.

I thank you guys for chiming in, it not only motivates but encourages me to keep going with this project.
I think, besides being considerably more time consuming, buttwelding with a mig welder requires clear access to both sides (upper and lower floor) and I have limited lower access plus it requires near expert fitting of the panels. I know some guys out there have either mad skills or have been doing these kind of repairs for years and are very experienced experts but I am far from a expert in the required skills department lol! This is a patch and if this was some rare model car I would buttweld and probably replace the section completely. I plan on using small sheet metal screws to hold everything together and tight before welding and, of course removing the screws and filling the holes.
Copper

This way works great so long as you can pull the unused metal out from the back. Might work for you?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u31t13QO6A

That was fantastic! Thanks so much for sharing
Copper

Just a bit of progress. Trimming this replacement panel is more difficult than I anticipated, my arms and hands are going to fall off Renewed respect of the body shop techs that do this for a living! Not the most fun part of this project by far. I'm marking, measuring, trimming , tapping and test fitting a dozen times and I'm still far from a great fit.
Copper

The forward edge gap is too much, I think it's so wide because of the angle of the original floor contacts the replacement panel and kicks it up so I'm going to attempt the infamous butt weld. I already cut the rear most edge to butt weld it and the fit is fantastic. I remind myself that it's only metal right? Tough to get much done in just a couple of hours but persistence pays off.
Copper

Same guy in the video above has another separate video on how to set your welder up. It's worth watching.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qScAlxb34UA

Also when welding panels in use a flashlight to check for any pin holes and go back and weld those up as needed.

Fit, measure, mark and trim a little more. Rinse and repeat.....
It might not seem like a big deal to you younger guys but, from kneeling hunched over the rocker, I have to squeeze out of the passenger door with the floor section in hand, close the door without crushing the extension cords and do the crab shuffle sideways around to the other side of the car all the while careful not to scratch the car. Only room I have for working is the drivers side so I have no choice and it's kicking my butt. My age is showing lol.
Copper

That trimmed up pan looks great!

I hear you on the age thing. I was up on my ladder today, cleaning out the gutters. Same house, ladder and routine for 28 years. Gets harder to do every year.