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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: wheaton IL
Posts: 659
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1990's steering column in a 51
need some advice from people who have put a 80s or 90s column in one of these trucks which is the best way to go about it.
i gutted a 1991 silverado last year, using the engine, transmission steering column etc off it. i did save the bracket from under the dash but obviously isnt a bolt in. did you have to modify the column itself or the bracket? im just worried about cutting a hole or doing something stupid where it doesnt work, after the column is in i think the rest of the build shouldnt be half bad. so any kinda tips or advice about whats the best way to tackle this project? |
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#2 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: West Side of the valley, CA
Posts: 878
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Re: 1990's steering column in a 51
I was going to try to go this route, but I think you'll find the column is too long, at least that's what i think w/mine. Didn't feel like modifying it too much.
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Toppenish, WA
Posts: 15,503
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Re: 1990's steering column in a 51
Those later columns are too bulky and too cluttered for earlier trucks. I keep eyeballing the tilt column in my 77 C30 with a 4 speed that is clean and uncluttered and you can still get parts easily. It does have the switch on the column that I don't care for on earlier trucks but a lot of folks like the locking column.
Had a column out of an 84 Cutlass that had a floor shift automatic in the 48 for a long time. Not real cluttered and it did have the dimmer on the column.
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Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around. |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Ocean Springs, MS
Posts: 1,746
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Re: 1990's steering column in a 51
I like using pre-83 van columns, they bolt right it.
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Gary 1971 Chevrolet C/10 1951 GMC 100 1977 GMC C15 1955 Chevrolet 3100 |
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Toppenish, WA
Posts: 15,503
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Re: 1990's steering column in a 51
Those are as clean and slick as you can find.
Abig84, I'd highly suggest walking around a few car shows or cruise nights and studying the steering columns guys stick in earlier model cars or trucks. You will discover that some are obviously swapped but look right and like they belong there, some look kinda ok but out of place and some just give you that what the heck were they thinking thought. Same goes with steering wheels, I saw a near perfect little 53 Chevy ragtop yesterday that had everything going for it until you saw the late model GM something or other sport steering wheel that looked like a total afterthought. Hopefully his special order one off custom wheel hasn't come in yet.
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Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around. |
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: wheaton IL
Posts: 659
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Re: 1990's steering column in a 51
the last couple shows i been too i seen similar columns in the trucks but didnt look to closely. but maybe they were s10 columns or a van column as someone else said. i just figured it would be simple enough to just plug and play with the electrical of this column as it came out of the truck with the same drivetrain, even going to install the cruise control.
are s10 columns shorter? i might actually have one buried in the garage i can dig out, would probably be a older model like a 87 s10 |
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Motown
Posts: 7,680
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Re: 1990's steering column in a 51
check out the s10 column in your garage is should be shorter
ogre has an 86 astro van column in 58 truk similar in everything to the s10
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cool, an ogre smiley ![]() how to put your truck year and build thread into your signature shop air compressor timer |
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: madison, NC
Posts: 81
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Re: 1990's steering column in a 51
Using 86 s10 in my 53 chevy
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#9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: canada
Posts: 87
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Re: 1990's steering column in a 51
im using an 86 s10 column in my '50
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Hampton, VA
Posts: 895
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Re: 1990's steering column in a 51
Ditto on the S10. I'm in the middle of a floor shift to a column shift using a 92.
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Robert C. 1950 3600 3600 re-do, shortening it up If it's true what they say, "You learn from your mistakes," I'm a Genius in the making. |
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#11 |
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![]() Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Wichita
Posts: 516
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Re: 1990's steering column in a 51
I wanted to go the S10 route, but after seeing a few at car shows, I thought they looked out of place.
It's been too long to find it in history now, but I bought a chrome column from ebay, with the GM wiring connector, for around $170 I think. You still need a wheel, but as MR.48 said, they aren't bulky like the late model stuff. |
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#12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Motown
Posts: 7,680
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Re: 1990's steering column in a 51
before buying a column off ebay read this: https://issuu.com/zone10nzhra/docs/i...eering_columns
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cool, an ogre smiley ![]() how to put your truck year and build thread into your signature shop air compressor timer |
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#13 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Hampton, VA
Posts: 895
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Re: 1990's steering column in a 51
Quote:
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Robert C. 1950 3600 3600 re-do, shortening it up If it's true what they say, "You learn from your mistakes," I'm a Genius in the making. |
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#14 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Wichita
Posts: 516
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Re: 1990's steering column in a 51
Damn...
It's been nice knowing you guys. |
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#15 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Lebanon, Oregon
Posts: 241
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Re: 1990's steering column in a 51
Quote:
I was also looking for a pre-83, but really didn't like the key in the column. These are all I have found so far used (ebay, craigslist, etc.) |
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#16 | |
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![]() Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Freedom Pa.
Posts: 1,335
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Re: 1990's steering column in a 51
Quote:
Thank you for this info, I just completed my other 34 project with one of these cheap steering columns. Guess I should go back and replace it. ![]()
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Desert |
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#17 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: wheaton IL
Posts: 659
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Re: 1990's steering column in a 51
so i finally went in the attic and dug through my pile-o-steering columns and found the old s10 one. its even got tilt, but looks like the turn signal stalk is kinda screwed up, but should be able to swipe one out of the half stripped columns i have. it does look like its going to be a better choice its slightly shorter and it looks like the ignition switch and every other electrical plug is the same as the 90s full size one. ive always loved how chevy is so interchangeable within its makes and models
s10 on the right ![]() ![]() brought down a 80s fullsize column but of course was longer, but the 1991 is slightly longer then the 80s, useless knowledge of the day. i havent even touched this truck in about 3 weeks, weekends been busy with family stuff or other things. im sure you know how it goes. but my next project is getting this thing mounted in the truck |
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#18 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: wheaton IL
Posts: 659
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Re: 1990's steering column in a 51
ill dig out the s10 column this weekend and see how it looks, placing the fullsize column in it does look kinda goofy, im sure i could make it work but going to be a lot of work. pretty sure the s10 column will have the same style ignition switch so should work with the factory wiring harness which im going to use for the time being, just going to have to tie up the thousand extra wires for the time being.
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#19 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: calgary alberta
Posts: 8,026
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Re: 1990's steering column in a 51
also try to match the angles if you can. in my opinion the column looks kinda goofy tilted all the way up in order to drive it. if tilted for just getting in and out then that is a different story.
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#20 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: calgary alberta
Posts: 8,026
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Re: 1990's steering column in a 51
my opinion only. just ask the wife how much that means.......haha.
your truck and your money, do what you like. that's hotrodding. just make it safe. |
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#21 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: wheaton IL
Posts: 659
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Re: 1990's steering column in a 51
Quote:
so far the game plan is to use a modern column then a k5 blazer gear box bolted to the frame. |
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#22 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Motown
Posts: 7,680
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Re: 1990's steering column in a 51
non tilt just has the straight shaft, pretty hard to have a failure there
thou i'd worry about failure of the cheap turn signal switch or column wiring
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cool, an ogre smiley ![]() how to put your truck year and build thread into your signature shop air compressor timer |
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#23 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Motown
Posts: 7,680
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Re: 1990's steering column in a 51
does the s10 column have the prndll on it?
my astro column did not. had to use the stick on prndlll that ididit sells, works fine the multi-function switch (turn/hilo/cruise) was the same for many years, gotta love gm ![]() if the arm is the only thing messed up it comes out of the multi-function switch i changed mine to use with rosta cruise control, to remove: push in, rotate clockwise and pull out
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cool, an ogre smiley ![]() how to put your truck year and build thread into your signature shop air compressor timer |
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#24 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: canada
Posts: 87
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Re: 1990's steering column in a 51
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#25 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Motown
Posts: 7,680
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Re: 1990's steering column in a 51
i added an ididit shift indicator to the astro column as it had the string
the astro had a 3 speed, ogre has a 4 speed 700r4 ![]() ![]()
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cool, an ogre smiley ![]() how to put your truck year and build thread into your signature shop air compressor timer |
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