Column swaps ?
 

Quick question...
I've looked in the search and can't find anything...Are there any other steering columns that will work on our squares ?? It seems they are either missing or completely wasted on the trucks at my pic-a-part. I was wondering if I should be looking at some other model ...Thoughts ??

Re: Column swaps ?
 

There are 3 different generations of columns I am aware of.

73-early 74 are very much like 60 columns. I did not know that till I was committed, and making modifications.

late 74 to 81 I believe can be swapped in but you need to be carefull of the slider mechanism.

81, and later.

Car one of similar vintage can be swapped in but require a bit of hold down mods, and a new pieces to extend the steering shaft.

Re: Column swaps ?
 

Have you look at like suburbans,blazers or crew cab trucks?All of those was still the square body tell 91.

Re: Column swaps ?
 

I'm working towards getting my 88 burb in a 78 Jimmy
i know they changed the shaft (79?)
so be sure to get the whole thing,from the box up.

Re: Column swaps ?
 

I think even some Van columns work?

Re: Column swaps ?
 

They all work, but will require mods such as extending the column shaft.

Also the switched wiring in the columns around 80.

Re: Column swaps ?
 

Thanks for the replies...Everything is grouped together fairly well at the yard I go to, so burbs, blazers and all the various p/u models are together, squares, then 88-ups, etc. What struck me as funny was yesterday, for the first time, I saw two Avalanches. So, obviously, something could be wrecked almost immediately, but those trucks don't seem "old enough" to be in the wrecking yard...

Re: Column swaps ?
 

The first avalanche was 2002 12 years ago,And here the price of a 02 avalanche is like 6 grand so if its wrecked hard enough to blow the air bags its probably heading to the junkyard.

Re: Column swaps ?
 

True enough...the ones I saw were quite hammered...one had been on the doors...

Re: Column swaps ?
 

If you can afford it watch Ebay for a rebuilt one. Even many of the tilt columns I have rebuilt appear tight and not floppy. Once torn down most have loose bolts even if it isn't noticeable with the column together. This is the case with almost all tilt columns unless they have been rebuilt recently. If you have the ability to rebuild one, find one at the pic a part and gather up good pieces from the other columns at the wrecking yard. Many parts from the car columns interchange and they have a much easier life than truck parts. I do this pretty regularly on the columns I purchase. They are tedious to rebuild but it you have mechanical ability and patience it can be done.

Re: Column swaps ?
 

1774btcrew....Though I didn't really say it in the 1st post, you kind of hit it on the head...I want to get one to rebuild at my pace, without having the truck down, then swap in the rebuilt unit...
Thanks everybody for the replies...

Re: Column swaps ?
 

There are a lot of good how to videos on YouTube for rebuilding these. That is where I got a lot of my info when I first started rebuilding these. You need a couple column specific tools but nothing is too expensive unless you tear the column completely down to the last piece