Editing Steering shaft assemblies from junkyard parts

Here's how to build a complete steering shaft assembly from steering joints used on General Motors front-wheel-drive cars, and Chevy Astro Vans. All of the joints use the double D (DD) steering shafts and tubes.

==GM FWD and Chevy Astro Van steering joints==
This one is from a fullsize FWD GM car. This half is attached on the column.
[[Image:Fullsize_fwd_GM_steering_joint_half.jpg|frame|none|Steering joint from a FWD GM car.]]

This end will accept a double D tube.
[[Image:Steering_joint_double_D.jpg|frame|none|GM steering joint.]]

This double D tube will accept a double D shaft.
[[Image:Steering_joint_double_D_tube.jpg|frame|none|GM double D steering shaft tube. Accepts a double D shaft.]]

This is what one looks like before taking it apart.
[[Image:Complete GM steering joint assembly.jpg|frame|none|GM steering shaft assembly, before taking it apart.]]

This is half of the Chevy Astro Van steering shaft.
[[Image:Astro_van_steering_shaft_half.jpg|frame|none|Half of a Chevy Astro Van steering shaft.]]

The double D steering shaft pieces are easily found on GM trucks and rear-wheel-drive cars. Each one generally has about six inches of double D tube, and 12 inches of double D shaft.
[[Image:Double_D_shaft_and_tube.jpg|frame|none|GM double D steering shafts and tubes.]]

This is the lower part of a Chevy Astro Van steering joint. The big plus is that it has a built-in vibration damper. Also, you can drill a spot in the double D shaft, so that a set screw and jam nut can be used to hold everything in place.
[[Image:Astro_van_lower_steering_joint.jpg|frame|none|The lower part of a Chevy Astro Van steering joint.]]

==Intersecting the firewall==
The steering shaft going through the firewall is made up of one-half GM FWD steering joints, and one-half Chevy Astro Van steering joints. The piece of pipe coming out of the firewall is an exhaust pipe reducer. Here, the end of a steering column was cut off (with the bearing), and the piece of tubing that holds the bearing was then welded into the exhaust reducer. This is done for extra support, and to help seal the cab from exhaust fumes.
[[Image:firewall_steering_joint.jpg|frame|none|Steering joint intersecting a firewall.]]

Using a FWD steering column, here's the male part of the steering joint going through an exhaust pipe reducer.
[[Image:Steering_joint_through_firewall.jpg|frame|none|Male part of a steering joint intersecting a firewall through an exhaust pipe reducer.]]

==The complete assembly==
This shows the complete setup. All that needs to be done is to weld or bolt the piece of pipe that holds the heim joint to the frame. The reason for the hiem joint is that the steering column bearing used on the outside of the firewall to help support everything isn't a snug fit, and this is one place that overkill is a good idea.
[[Image:complete_steering_joint_assembly.jpg|frame|none|The finished steering shaft assembly.]]