Manual to Automatic Steering Column
 

Evening All

66 chevy short stepside, had a 3 speed on column, PO changed to floor, not a very good job,lol
im going to be more than likely going with a 700R4,
What steering column should i be looking for and other parts

i have access to a few squarebody trucks, maybe one is automatic that would work ?

thanks for any help and Happy New Year to all

Re: Manual to Automatic Steering Column
 

It's easy enough to install a later model column and the bracket to clamp it up to the bottom of the dash is simply fabricated. The center link, rag joints, and etc are also usually salvaged from a donor squarebody. The trouble however, comes when trying to retain the factory emergency brake lever. Stock columns had a smaller diameter tube than the later GM columns and if you peek under there you can see that the pass through of the e-brake bracket needs to reworked to be wider so it will fit around the modern column tube. This part of the deal is a PIA and requires a lot of patience. I've done it a few times but that was when good donor colums were easier to find (70's Coupe de Villes were my favorite for the tilt/tele feature) and stock e-brake brackets were readily available. These days I think I would go with ididit or Flaming River and just get a column that is "plug and play" so to speak and use Borgeson for the related centerlink shaft, u-joints, rag joint etc.
Here's a link from the past with more links included http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=291299

Re: Manual to Automatic Steering Column
 

Take a look at our FAQ section:
Steering Columns

tilt steering for our trucks, aftermarket or later model swap ins? : May 2008 / 15 posts

DPowers 1966 build thread - post 8, shows the install of a tilt steering column from a 1964 Impala into his truck.

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Everything you wanted to know about van column install : August 2003 / 25+ posts

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tilt column : March 2005 / 10+ posts

GM Column help : February 2008 / 9 posts

Tilt column help needed please : January 2014, information about which wires go where, by color and purpose

steering column question : June 2014

1960 steering column, turn signal parts and discussion on repairs, etc..

Re: Manual to Automatic Steering Column
 

I was able to find a column from a mid 70's van. They are different then the square body column's Page post #35 is how I hooked up the lower half of the a square body column to the upper column. I am running a square body steering box though. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=259536&page=2