1961 GMC 4000 Rescue and repair

[snazzypig]

Nice work you're doing! The jack stands look great and well suited for the job--I'd rather have overkill any day when your safety is on the line.

[Crosshairs6]

I hear ya regarding safety. These tall trucks were designed to use bottle jacks as well. These days, everyone including me have floor jacks. You truly have to have a monster floor jack to reach a frame rail that is 30 inches off the ground. I now have a tall bottle jack on order. I also bought aftermarket wheels that will be in on Tuesday. Getting rid of the widow-maker split rims.

[Crosshairs6]

Lower Steering shaft removal. I have the maintenance manual for my truck but it doesn't cover much detail for the GMC 4000. I can't figure out how to get the lower steering shaft out. Do I have to loosen and lift up on the steering column to get this section out? As you can see in the pictures, I have to service this section and replace the rubber boots covering the joints so I have to get this section out. Thanks for any information. Hopefully, someone here has done this before.

[Funky61]

Crosshairs;
I don't have a 4000 but I did read through the manual and it's not very clear to me either. It does mention removing the plate floor panel screws for access to a yoke shaft center cross.
That was in Section 16. page 596 under shaft removal in the X-6023 factory manual. Is that the manual you are using?

I hope someone who works on the bigger trucks will chime in for you.

Henry

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[Crosshairs6]

Henry,
Yes, that's the manual I have as well. The steering shaft on my truck in in the driver's side wheel well as in the pictures as posted. I don't have to remove to floor panel to get to it. Reading on page 594, it specifies loosening bolts on the shaft and tapping on the bottom half of the lower coupling. I have done that and the shaft moves up, but enough to remove.

[Crosshairs6]

That said, I figured I would post pictures of the new wheels and tires that arrived today.
I bought these tires and wheels (22.5x6.75 White Steel 10x8.75" (Old Chevy 2 Ton Trucks) as replacements for the original split-rim widow-maker wheels. In the pictures, I still have the driver's side up on jack-stands as I am working on the steering shaft. The wheels fit great and putting a tape measure on them, that are not as high and the original wheel/tire combination. I wanted 22.5 inch rims for ease in buying tires. I look at it as money well spent.
I mounted a tire just to measure and check steering clearance. It's all good. I don't want to make a habit of taking these tires off as they are heavy.

[BobBray]

I like those wheels, and going 22.5" is a wise move. Have you found the parts needed to restore your steering shaft? If you have trouble, you might want to consider fabbing up a new shaft with Borgeson parts. Those are what the custom/race car builders use. Many size shafts and joints are available through Summit Racing:



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[Crosshairs6]

Thanks BobBray,
Yes, I like the new wheels a lot better on this big truck.
I appreciate the information on the updated steering parts. I will look at them for sure. I'm still trying to figure out how to get the old steering shaft out without having to pull the steering column.

[Crosshairs6]

Finally got the steering column lower shaft out today. It was froze in there pretty good. Now if the dust boots I ordered are delivered soon, I could get it all back together.