Do these trucks have locking steering columns?
 

I’m picking up a 75 soon that the previous owner lost the key for and am making plans to drag it out of where it’s been sitting for the last 15 years - did the steering columns lock in 75? Coming over from the 67-72 side of the forum and these trucks I’m less familiar with - thanks I’m advance!

Re: Do these trucks have locking steering columns?
 

By 87, they were definitely locking. I don't know when they started, though.

I'd like to disable mine somehow. I like the ability to kill the ignition while rolling to a stop. Unfortunately, I've gotten in the habit of killing the ignition and pressing the lock button(manual trans) in single smooth move. The abrupt loss of steering has caused a few panic stops!

Re: Do these trucks have locking steering columns?
 

My 75 C10 column locks.

It is a bit of a PITA, but you can pull the steering wheel and remove guts until you get to the key tumbler. Assuming you are wanting to drive it at some point, it is something you will have to do anyway to replace the existing tumbler with a new one with keys.

Once the tumbler is out, you simply turn the ignition linkage with a large flat blade screwdriver.

Thieves simply yank the tumbler out of the column and then use the screwdriver. This approach breaks the column but the vehicle can be started and driven.

Re: Do these trucks have locking steering columns?
 

Locking column started in 1973, when they moved the key to the column from the dash ;)

My understanding is that you can pull the wheel and remove the locking ring without breaking anything (but there is a special tool to get the spring off).

Re: Do these trucks have locking steering columns?
 

The column in my '74 does not lock and does not have any interlock being a 4-speed truck. The owners manual states that the locking feature is only for automatic transmission equipped trucks.
The service manual mentions that the key should turn to lock only when the transmission is placed in park or in reverse (for manual transmissions). I assume this is for column shift 3-speed manuals since the 4-speed doesn't interact with the steering column at all.

Re: Do these trucks have locking steering columns?
 

My 76 does not lock but I always assumed that was because somebody broke or took out the locking ring, as it does not have the factory steering wheel.

Back when I worked at the Chevy shop, some lady brought it a Vega for service and left with the keys, and the car blocking the service aisle. It was a stick shift so we could roll it but the steering wheel was locked. The wheels were turned slightly so it kept wanting to run into the wall, but a bunch of guys just grabbed the front end and scooted it over several times until we could get it into a spot out of the way :lol:

So floor stick shift doesn't mean the steering wheel doesn't lock.

Re: Do these trucks have locking steering columns?
 

I checked another owners manual- a 1979 truck. The lock position prevents normal use of steering wheel and shift controls. The key cannot be returned to lock and removed unless the shift lever is in park on or reverse (on 3-speed manual trans). If it is a 4-speed equipped the lock position prevents normal use of the steering wheel. The key cannot be returned to lock without pressing down on the key release lever.
Also, there is no mention of the steering column locking in the GM service manuals for floor-shift transmissions until '79. The anti-theft locking feature is also mentioned in the '79 Vehicle Info Kit but not in years before that.
The only thing the lock feature does on my '74 is prevent you from taking the key out in any other tumbler position. Not sure when the key release lever was implemented but that would narrow down the floor shift difference with the column locking. Maybe someone with a couple columns laying around could test if the floor shift-prior to 79- will lock.
Cars were typically different than trucks and had features (comfort/safety) before trucks did but since in '79 they mentioned it in the owners manual it had caught on by then. Even vans were different animals and exceptions noted in the service manuals.

Re: Do these trucks have locking steering columns?
 

My 1973 has a locking steering column, still works great no issues.

Re: Do these trucks have locking steering columns?