Is this a van tilt column?
 

Hey guys,

To make a long story short I got this column out of a mid 70’s Chevy motor home for free today. I know it’s rough and missing quite a bit. Is this a tilt column? It’s not perfectly straight where the gear selector is and it has a few heavier springs inside and looks to have the horseshoe rod end. I couldn’t get anything to make it tilt. But I figured for it being free and 20 minutes of my time, I didn’t have much to loose :lol:

Re: Is this a van tilt column?
 

More pics

Re: Is this a van tilt column?
 

looks like one, need a picture of the lower part, could be a motor home tilt also.

Re: Is this a van tilt column?
 

Lower part of the column where it bolts to the steering box?

Re: Is this a van tilt column?
 

Here's a picture of the 3 types of tilts.
Top- motorhome
Middle- truck
Bottom- van (picture this one without the fitting attached on the splines at the end of the shaft. I hadn't removed it when I took the picture.)

Re: Is this a van tilt column?
 

Dang the motorhome and truck look identical!!

Do you know if there is a way I can activate the tilt in the column I have with all the levers being gone? I started pushing on the spring and couldn’t get the tilt to activate.

Re: Is this a van tilt column?
 

Here's a closeup that shows the difference between motor home and truck tilts. The motor home column has a bent transmission linkage arm and the neutral safety switch farther up the column.

Without a lever I don't think you'll be able to tilt it. I suppose a long bolt with the correct threads would work.

Re: Is this a van tilt column?
 

I didn’t see that little difference. I defiantly have a van column then. Now the task comes to see if I can get it to tilt...:smoke:

Re: Is this a van tilt column?
 

Get some 1/4" x20 all thread rod or a 1/4" x 20 long bolt and screw it into the column. Put the tube in a vise and you may have to spray it down good with some kind of lubricate like WD-40 to loosen it up. From the rod threads on the steering wheel end any way.
Yep looks like a van tilt from the pictures.

Nice score for free though!:chevy:

Re: Is this a van tilt column?
 

Excellent - Thanks

Re: Is this a van tilt column?
 

Thanks for your guys input!! I was able to get a bolt into the tilt mechanism and activate the tilt, she needs a rebuild but that’s a project for another day.