I'm trying to get the steering box out. I can't seem to get the steering coupler to budge. The roll pin is out, it's not the spline I'm having problems with, it's lose. My question/problem is the steering coupler won't slide up at all so I have clearance to get the spline out. Isn't it suppose to move, how do I get the darn thing off? It shouldn't be this complicated.

There's some info in this thread, I'm still having problems
.
https://moparforums.com/forums/f7/ho...ing-gear-5858/

 

I use two open end wrenches over the spline to pry apart the coupler from the box. If it simply wont budge go inside the car and remove the steering column from the car. There is 3 1/4 nuts(or should be) on the inside holding it to the dash and two 5/16 bolts holding the plate to the firewall itself. If you look down the column tube there is 2 5/16 bolts on either side going into the plate do not remove those its the plate to wall ones you want to remove. With the column loose you pull back on the steering wheel and leave it rest on the front of the seat. If you have column shift with indicator you might have a small tiny cable going into the cluster to undo.

Truthfully since the coupler is partially apart already you should service it and put it back together with the small orange rubber and the clip that is currently bent to hell back together anyways.

 

Thanks jacilynn_s! I'll give it a shot.
I plan on rebuilding the coupler, but for now I think I'm going to add some lube and see if I can get it back together and put the new gear in. I need to order a re-build kit, but I think I'm safer giving my wife her garage back for a week or two.

 

X 2 you got to unbolt the column from the floor

 

Worked great..

Next question.. I can't get the gear lowered out, do you guys usually have to unbolt the exhaust from the headers? I know the exhaust isn't stock, but I'm not sure about the headers. I've tried to turn and wiggle it, I can't get it out from the top or the bottom.. No luck.. I'm sure this will all be a lot easier the second time around.

 

What gear?

And no Chrysler car came with headers. Chrysler wasn't that stupid. The only 'header' was the Max Wedge Headers that went up and over the valvecover before going down. Solid cast iron.

I can tell you that most of the headers people stupidly put on cars require you to unbolt the steering links just to get them in. So depending on what you mean by gear it's probably a yes. To get the steering box out of car with headers you will need to remove the header as they usually prevent you from lifting the box up and out.

Note the pitman arm on the bottom of the box requires a special puller that will snap if you try to use the puller on it alone. Put puller on the arm tighten then tap the sides of the arm with hammer, tighten the puller again and repeat with tapping and tightening untill the arm comes loose.

 

Steering grear/box. pitman is already off.
If its the original "wedge," is there any tricks to maneuver the box out.
I think I know the answer, im just hoping im not going to have to take off the flow master on t hat side. You can kind of see the exhaust in the original pictutes, ill post a bettet pic tomorrow. Maybe im missing something.

 

Three long bolts secure the gear box then you have to lift that heavy thing out from the top.

 

Thx. I ended up un-bolting the exhaust from the header and dropping it through the bottom.
Gettin the new one in was a lot easier than gettin the old one out.