new late 3rd gen steering isolator coupler

[red79]

So it seems that when a previous owner converted my 72 from column to floor shift, a column from a 73 or 74 was installed as it has the characteristic rubber isolator installed above the standard coupler. As is also characteristic of this design, the coupler biscuit is shot, and coming apart in pieces, which doesn't do much for my steering response.

As far as I can tell, finding a replacement isolator biscuit is somewhat difficult these days. Apparently, mopar stopped producing them a few years back, and the stock left on ebay and such is quite expensive. Bouchillon Performance advertises them on their website, but when I called I found that their website is two years out of date, and they no longer have the originals. Instead, once stock ran out, they started producing a replacement out of poly. Unfortunately, it didn't react well to the heat of the manifolds right next to it, and apparently started stinking like rotting fish. So, they started milling solid replacements out of solid T6, powdercoated black. Obviously, they don't flex like the originals (which were isolators, not flex joints). Since I don't have the isolated k-frame found in 73-up, and I couldn't find any references to this new part on the forum,I figured there was no harm in eliminating the rubber, and decided to be a guinea pig. The part arrived with these instructions:

We have an all new design... after all the problems Chrysler experienced over the years with their original design, we recently made a new design from Billet aluminum... It resembles the original in outward appearance, but does not flex. That is where most people get confused. [The original biscuit] was not designed to flex constantly but act as an insulator/isolator of the road noise and steering inputs. The recently released design bolts exactly back into the original location. Generally, the only modification required is just realign the base of the steering column Lower Jacket Support (the bracket that supports the lower part of the the steering column to the firewall) so both steering sections are straight.

Some applications had a pilot on the firewall for the place. Sometimes it must be removed or modified to accommodate alignment of the steering shaft. The Plunge Joint, at the steering box, has been the true flex component of the shaft by design.

Here's a picture of the new coupler, simple design but great finish on it. Cost was $119, somewhat less than a flaming river u-joint, somewhat more than the rubber coupler used to be. I'm sure if I kept the guard on the column after replacing it, you'd never notice it was non-stock. I'll try and get it installed in the next few days (always hate hammering the pin out of the plunge joint to pull the column), and I'll let you all know how it goes and how it drives afterward.