Steering column wows

[hopelessredneck]

So i while back my brother gave me a tilt column out of his 80 k20 he parts truck and nothing was wrong with it and now when i finaly get to installing is the key wouldnt budge to i pulled it apart thinking the lock cylinder was seized just to find out that there is nothing wrong with it so i grabed pliers and tried to turn the ignition over to no avail so then i droped the column to check the ignition rod that goes to the switch and it wont budge so im think in that its the cam gear thingy that is seized or broken so i go to pull it apart further and have all the fastners out of the top cover but it wont come off and im ready to punch out a window (just quit cold turkey 2weeks ago aint helping ether) any ideas or detailed instructions would be a god send and brownie points to who ever can tell me the diffrence between these two lock cylinders other then one uses a pin to hold it in compared to push tab what year or truck/blaser/suburabn would this go to my lps cant figure it out they tell me there is only the bottem one for 67-87 gm C/k series

[walkerb]

The top I believe is an GM and the bottom w/o the tab is an aftermarket? I had somewhat the same issue. I used the aftermarket and it would never work the right why with my 75 column.

Stupid question, are you sure you are trying the correct ignition key? The one for that column?

[hopelessredneck]

ya my brother asked the same thing when i got the lock cylinder out of the column it works fine

[ray_mcavoy]

The lock cylinder at the top (the one with the retainer tab) is the style that was used in the older GM columns ... up until sometime around 1979 I think.

The lock cylinder at the bottom (the one that's retained with a screw) is the style that was used in the newer (79 or so & up) columns.

I don't think you need to pull the top end of the column apart to remove/replace the rack & pinion gear assembly. If I remember correctly, the gear just pulls straight out of the lock cylinder hole. And then the rack & rod can be pulled down through.

[rs72z]

The top half of the column has to come apart to replace the rack.
I have never seen one stuck. Let us know what you find.

After looking at the picture again, i see what might be keeping you from getting the top collar off. The inner race on the bearing needs to come out, it's probably stuck on the shaft.