Tilt column - Differece between van and truck?

[Dual quad]

I have a chance to buy a Tilt column that the seller claims is correct for my '72. I know that there is a difference between van and truck columns specific to overall length but I am not sure what that is.

What do I look for to confirm that this column is infact an original truck column and not a modified van column? Are all 67-72 truck columns the same? I think that the 67/68's have the shaft as part of the steering box. Finally, if this is the real deal, what is a fair dollar to pay?

[71swb4x4]

The shaft coming out of the end of the column is the main difference. On a truck tilt it's about 2 inches and on a van tilt it's about 6 inches.
The Neutral safety switch is also in a different location.
All 67-72 truck tilts are the same.
It seems that truck tilits have been right around the $200 mark for one that is nice but unrestored.

[71swb4x4]

You can see the difference in shafts with these Ebay auctions.

Van tilt
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=42609

Truck tilt
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...spagename=WDVW

[PICKMUP]

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...483#post888483

[Longhorn Man]

Also, as far as 67/68 trucks go, there was no tilt.

[HeavyD]

Geez..I just shelled out 250 dollars for what is now obviously a van tilt. The seller claimed it was an original out of a 72 Sierra Grande..I guess not. Oh well, I will throw this thing in my beater truck and keep looking

[Tx Firefighter]

Originally Posted by HeavyD

Geez..I just shelled out 250 dollars for what is now obviously a van tilt. The seller claimed it was an original out of a 72 Sierra Grande..I guess not. Oh well, I will throw this thing in my beater truck and keep looking

My so dissapointed? I mean, get it installed and likely no one will ever know it's not a "correct" tilt for your truck. They look original when installed, unless, like was said, you check the length of the shaft sticking out in the engine compartment. But 999 out of 1000 guys couldn't tell by looking that it's not original.

[Dual quad]

Excellent feedback guys, exactly what I needed to know. Thanks

[Dual quad]

Oh yeah, is the correct connector straight or curved?

[neonlarry]

Curved, the vans are straight. GM sells adaptors.

[Longhorn Man]

early vans had the hose shoe connector. I think 75 or so was when they chainged.

[kxmotox247]

Does anyone have the part number on the GM adaptor? Or what do you ask for if you want one?

[HeavyD]

I too would like the part # if anyone has it..dealing with our GM dealer without numbers is hopeless.

[neonlarry]

Gm Part # 1894851

[Swbman]

IMO, it doesn't matter if its a VAN Tilt or not and their low price and easiness to find in salvage yards makes them a win win thing and as mentioned above once installed the average joe wouldn't be know the difference,and as far as the flat connector harness that comes on the van tilts,I just cut a horseshoe shape connecting harness from a bad truck column and use wire connectors and hide the connectors under the little metal wiring harness cover that attaches to the column shaft.

[HeavyD]

Swbman: I have a horseshoe plug and was wondering about cutting the rectangle plug off the tilt and replacing it with the horseshoe. The problem is that the van tilt has 8 wires coming out, and the wire colors do not all match the horseshoe plug colors. Also, on the "big" horseshoe plug end there are 8 wires, but on the "small" horseshoe end (composed of 2 smaller plugs) there is only 7 wires. Am I missing one? What wire color goes to what? If it is possible to splice in the horseshoe in place of the rectangle plug I will do it...if is too much hassle I will just buy an adapter.
Thanks.

[ScottH]

Not to highjack the thread, but since it's on the same subject, what is the best way to handle to extra length on the van column shaft?

Thanks.

[Tx Firefighter]

you collapse the intermediate shaft between the column and box until it fits properly.

[StingRay]

The collpsable shaft between the column and the box can be banged in a couple of inches and is good to go. It is retained at it's stock length by plastic pins that will shear when you collapse it. The only real draw back to the van column is if you ever end up in a bad collision the wheel will end up a couple of inches closer to you that it would with a stock truck column as you are using up the some of the built on collpse room built in by GM. Personally it wouldn't worry me.

[Stepsides 4Ever]

I have a horseshoe plug and was wondering about cutting the rectangle plug off the tilt and replacing it with the horseshoe.

Straight or horseshoe? No adapter is necessary.

This is not as hard as it looks. You can take a small jeweler's screwdriver or small flat strip of steel (like a flat hair pin) and insert it between the wire terminal and the horseshoe/straight plastic connector to release the wire terminal. Pull the wire & terminal out the back side of the connector. You will have to do this if you ever need to replace a broken turn signal cam anyway, to get the wires through the column cover. It's a simple matter to re-wire to the stock connector, be it straight or curved, and match whatever wiring is there. If needed, go to the boneyard and tear one apart and you will see how easy this can be accomplished!