1968 Chevy Malibu Steering Upgrades - Can't Wait To Drive It!

When we do get our mighty engine and drivetrain, Project Malibu Muscle will have the right suspension parts to make it go where we point it. Leaving in old parts from 1968 would invite unreliable steering problems like wandering and bumpsteering, which will require extra effort to turn (especially to park). We'd also have a steering wheel we would be ashamed to show in public. The beat up old wheel and column could not be adjusted for comfort, and certainly didn't have the cool look of our new ididit tilt column, and Grant wheel.

For a modest outlay of funds, our musclecar, and yours too, can have modern steering upgrades inside and out, including a new power steering gear from Remy, and Original Parts Group's new pitman arm, centerlink, idler arm assembly, inner and outer tie rods, and Hotchkis tie rod sleeves. We're topping it off with a custom dash and a brand-new dash pad, so that everything the driver sees and puts his or her hands on looks great, and actually works.

And why not? We've already covered the fundamentals by installing a great suspension and brake system from Hotchkis and Master Power Brakes (Super Chevy, March 2006), we're not about to leave any weak links with old parts. This is not a major job as far as time goes, but of course we're doing the upgrades on a car with no engine or interior. If all the parts are ready, a fairly savvy builder can spend a few hours on the weekend, and feel good about what he's accomplished, as we did.

Don't lose any parts when taking the old column apart.

There are two distinct pieces: the lower portion of the rod that connects to the steering box, which contains all the stock "crush" pieces, and will be re-used between the ididt column and the Remy steering gear.

The second is the upper portion, which will be replaced by the ididit column.

Remy does, however, furnish a new rag joint.

The next step inside the car is disconnecting the column from the dash. In many installations (such as ours), the stock underdash pieces will be used again.

Highly modified interiors and dashes might require custom steering column drops, which are available from ididit.

Remove the stock cover at the firewall, which will expose the steering column brace, and will also need to be removed.

Liftoff! Or is that liftout? Anyway the old column is out.