[gtohurstjudge]

A customer bought a 1965 GTO sight unseen over the internet from a car dealer
and there is something bad going on with the steering column that I can't figure out. There
is a huge gap between the back of the steering wheel and the top of the column, and out under the hood the rag joint is being pulled apart because the steering shaft is way too far towards the firewall. It is a 4 speed column with no shifter on the column. Help!

[Geeto-Tiger]

I had a Corvette just like that. Turns out, it was in a wreck and the frame was bent causing the column shaft appear to be too short. I would check the frame.

[BOB VIDAN]

There's an adjustment that should pull the shaft toward the rag joint and close the distance between the column and steering wheel. It's on the firewall side at the bottom of the column. Loosen it and you can move the shaft.

[Lemans64]

There is a clamp on the bottom of the column, engine side of firewall, loosen the clamp and have someone push down on the steering wheel while you tighten the clamp. Right where the small shaft comes out of the larger casing.

[gtohurstjudge]

Originally Posted by Lemans64

There is a clamp on the bottom of the column, engine side of firewall, loosen the clamp and have someone push down on the steering wheel while you tighten the clamp. Right where the small shaft comes out of the larger casing.

You were right, the clamp was loose but we have another problem now. The
lower bearing that the clamp faces up to seems to be recessed too far in the column housing
to the point that the clamp bottoms out on the outer plastic ring at the end of the housing
long before it hits the bearing inner race. When you tighten the clamp it just chews on the plastic as you turn the wheel back and forth. What gives?

[Lemans64]

Never took mine apart that far so can't really help ya there, I'm sure their is a few here that have taken them apart so hopefully someone will chime in.

[64woodwheel]

Sounds like your bearing is missing inner race, or plastic adapter is broken, or the metal clamp is reversed. There is only one way they fit on the shaft correctly. Should look like this. This is a '64 column. '65 bearing adapters are held on by a couple screws instead of the clip you see here.

[64woodwheel]

Another pic better showing the clamp.

[John V.]

Chad, FWIW, I have the original Tilt column in my '64 GTO.

Setup looks different, I have an exposed spring wrapping around the shaft and no spring clip or any groove for it.

When I posted the pic showing my column (nowhere near as pretty as yours ) awhile back in the thread about the two different '64 clutch rod boots, I was questioned about the spring but it is as seen in the Shop Manual Fig. 9-13 so I believe correct for a tilt column.

OP did not mention tilt column, so probably not useful here.

Just thought I would mention the difference in case...

[gtohurstjudge]

I had a guy who does nothing but repair steering columns for a living look at it and the problem was someone put the wrong lower bearing in the column, probably because he couldn't source the correct one. The column repair guy made an adaptor to
take up the extra space and it should be OK now. Thanks to everyone for the help!