what steering columns are direct fit?
 

hey guys - I have a 68' and wanted to know what year steering columns are direct fit?

thanks!

Re: what steering columns are direct fit?
 

I don't have all the answers, but the 67-72 pickups interchange. Chevrolet/GMC full size vans that have the ignition switch in the dash will also interchange.
The vans had the ign switch in the dash for many years after 1972.
I don't know what year the vans started using the ign switch in the column.

These are the only "for sure" direct fit columns I know of....

Re: what steering columns are direct fit?
 

isn't a van column longer

Re: what steering columns are direct fit?
 

The only direct fit is the truck tilt but a van tilt up to 82 or a motor home tilt up to 85 will work. thew motor home tilt looks closer to the truck tilt in my opinion but look at the FAQ section for our models as there is a ton and a half of write ups on how to make a van tilt work in our trucks.
On a side note I took a van tilt that had a wallowed out shifter pin hole and worked on it by grinding off the humps filling the holes that left and fixed up a column that looks like a factory tilt for floor shifter. It looks real slick. Jim

Re: what steering columns are direct fit?
 

67/68s are different from 69-72. In '69 they went to collapsible, so you need everything from the steering box-up. Van columns are longer, but have enough "collapse" to them that you can shrink to fit. GM p-chassis vehicles (StepVan/motor home) also work. You want ones with no ignition in the column

Re: what steering columns are direct fit?
 

My '67 is collapsible as well.

Re: what steering columns are direct fit?
 

how do tell a 67-68 steering shaft from a 69-72? pics from a collapsible & non-collapsible please. thanks, Larry

Re: what steering columns are direct fit?
 

Collapsible? Whats that all about?

Re: what steering columns are direct fit?
 

a collapsible column will collapse in a front end collision. Non collapsible column will spear the shaft and steering wheel into you if the collision is serious enough.

At least that is my understanding.

Re: what steering columns are direct fit?
 

Collapsible has 2 plastic "pins" holding the double d in place. Upon impact, they shear allowing the shaft to slide inside itself.

Re: what steering columns are direct fit?
 

To clarify the information in the above posts, the steering column itself is not collapsible. The intermediate shaft is collapsible. The thread linked below provides more info. Also, as noted above, this was a safety feature to reduce the risk of the column spearing the driver in a frontend collision, and the intermediate shafts in the 67s and 68s were one piece.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=309895

Re: what steering columns are direct fit?
 

My 68 came with a collapsible shaft as well; both 1 piece and 2 piece shafts are collapsible.

Re: what steering columns are direct fit?
 

Not trying to take over this thread but does anybody have a picture of a 68 GMC emissions sticker

Re: what steering columns are direct fit?
 

'81 GMC van tilt column fits nicely in my '67 (it does have the ignition on the column).

Re: what steering columns are direct fit?
 

You would be better off starting a new thread.

Re: what steering columns are direct fit?
 

That's interesting! Did you do any modification at all, or did it bolt in?

Re: what steering columns are direct fit?
 

Bolted right in.

The steering wheel sits a little closer to my chest than the original setup did, but I'm not a big guy so it works better for me.