Aftermarket Column install

[BR3W CITY]

I'm looking at picking up an aftermarket tilt column for my 66. Looking at the Ididit columns as well as the ebay ones. Whats needed to install one of these? Is it just a matter of taking out the old and bolting in the new, or do you need adapters or any other parts to get it to connect to the steering shaft.

[Clyde65]

if you have a stock column now, you will need the new column the DD shaft and a rag joint/coupling for the steering gearbox and also you will need a DD swivel connection at the end of the column. usually those things add about $200-250.00 onto the price.


Oh yea and also they do not come with the "dress up" kit, sold seperately, not sure how much those are, that includes shift lever, TS lever, Tilt lever and flasher nob, and also the indicator

[BR3W CITY]

ya thats whats killing me, I'm not sure what I need to for the shaft or joint, and none of the vendors seem to sell a "complete" setup (at least not that I've seen for a reasonably price)

[Clyde65]

None of it is reasonable to me. I would look at getting one of the tilt columns CPP has, they are remakes of the 71-72 columns, you can have the 4speed auto selector, they are made with all brand new parts. The only drawback is I think they are from overseas.

[kieth]

I used one from a 91 burb, had to make some mods, am using the wiring harness also...


here is a link, I just took more pictures but have not uploaded them yet, Kieth

http://kieth.smugmug.com/Trucks/66-G...94_W6NaW-X2-LB

[BR3W CITY]

What about those tilt columns on ebay? I know ebay stuff isn't always the best.

I found a CPP universal 30" columns for $220. Could I get that and then just find the right DD joint to go from the column to the stock intermediate shaft? I'd rather not buy the "install kit" with a whole new intermediate shaft etc if i don't need it.

[Clyde65]

Ummm, you can use an intermediate shaft from a 67-72 IIRC with them, I dont know about the evilbay columns. the CPP tilts I was telling you were like $275.00, if your interested in them, email/PM CCPJeff.

I am rebuilding a stock 65 column ( I dont care about the tilt) and cut the shaft off, about 3" past the column stop and do the intermediate shaft from a 68 column I have.

[BR3W CITY]

Heck you know what, I think my steering box and shaft may be from a 71. The p.o swapped the front suspension for 71 so those peices may also be.
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[gimmy 64]

i got the tilt column from p.o.l performance online. turns out to be ididit. you need the adapter for the electric hook up-30.00 double d shaft--20.00-you only need the 18 inch one.the shaft that bolts to the rag joint. and the dd shaft. and a joint that conects to the dd shaft and the splines on the column. everything comes with the column in the way of levers and flasher nob. i did this swap because i did not wantr to put a 40 year old steering column back in my truck

[Indian113]

I have one of the CPP tilt column's that are called economy column. I am going to install it as soon as I get my truck back from the tranny shop. We are putting in a 700r4 and going from a 350 trans w/gennie shifter to a column shifter. It was cheaper to buy column than a shifter and a column because our column is for a 3 on the tree.

[willyp]

i installed the ididit column from summit, part number IDT-1120650010. it has self cancelling turn signals, 4 way flashers, 8 position tilt and comes wired with a 3 7/8 plug, all knobs and handles included. the plug was a little funky to mate up with the painless harness but i figured it out. i also used a steering coupler adapter from summit, part number IDT-3000313449.

i like pictures......

[blackedoutharley]

Originally Posted by willyp

the plug was a little funky to mate up with the painless harness but i figured it out.

Can you elaborate on this more?

[BR3W CITY]

Willyp, did you need an intermediate shaft also, or only the column? My truck was converted to power by the PO, so I'm not sure if i need the intermediate shaft like some say, or just the coupler for the 69+ style.

[Dunenutt]

I bought the econo column from Brothers, which is a CPP streetrod column. You can buy all of the shafting from CPP. It comes with all of the knobs and handles. You will not have a neutral safety switch, or reverse lights without some extra parts. For a couple hundred bones, it is what it is. I will be doing some fab to make the oem NS switch work.

[willyp]

Originally Posted by blackedoutharley

Can you elaborate on this more?

ok, the ididit column uses a 3 7/8 inch male connector. the painless harness comes with 2 different female connectors that are both about 2 1/2 inches. i couldnt figure out which one to use or how they fit together. after a couple calls to both painless and ididit tech support i was more confused. i figured there had to be some kind of addapter. sometimes you just have to take a break and revisit the problem in onther day or two........or three. eventually i figured it out, all of connector positions dont get used, i ended up cutting off about 1 1/4 inches off the ididit connector so they could snap together. also 3 of the pins color wire didnt match up. it would be easy if black went to black, white to white.....not in this case, pin L,M,N colored wire dont match up. you can see the 2 connectors up under the dash. the right side is the ididit and the left side is the painless connector. i had to make a pin to pin/to wire color diagram to keep it all straight. clear as mud?

[willyp]

Originally Posted by BR3W CITY

Willyp, did you need an intermediate shaft also, or only the column? My truck was converted to power by the PO, so I'm not sure if i need the intermediate shaft like some say, or just the coupler for the 69+ style.

just the column and the coupler, used the stock shaft but had to cut it.

[wildearp]

I used a GM column from an early 80's Suburban. I cut back the shift ring so that only about 3 inches remained and filled the shifter hole. I also welded it at the base to keep the shift ring from spinning. I then removed my stock column and kept the shaft. I installed the column to measure the shaft length. I used a CPP spline to DD U-joint. After cutting the stock column shaft, I cut it into a DD to fit tightly into the U-joint. The GM column bolted right up. I didn't use a wiring adapter, just terminals. Total project was about 4 hours.

The column from a local pick-a-part was under $70.

[blackedoutharley]

Thank you... I have a Painless harness in my '65 and am still using the stock column. I thought the Ididit column was a plug and play with the gm connector but apparently not.

[willyp]

it was all there.......just took me a while to figure it all out.

[BR3W CITY]

I took a few shots of my ps pump and intermediate shaft, as well as the end of the column. Can you guys tell what year or years this stuff may be? The po did all the suspension and steering on the truck, and I know the front suspension stuff is from a 71 (metal bushings on the control arms). Ideas? If I can figure this out I'll know what i need for the column

[59Mutt]

hi, im helping a buddy install a tilt in his 65. it has a shifter on the column along with an indicator. im not sure sure what it came from but its rebuilt. im sorry i dont have the lenght. but my concern is how does it mount under the dash? the original has two little screws to hold the column to the mounting bracket. the new one has no holes. what did you folks do to secure it? thanks.

[BR3W CITY]

I've seen people used Tek screws or self tapping sheetmetal screws (just don't go too long). I also like the idea of welding 2 nuts onto the column and using bolts to hold it through the bracket.

[59Mutt]

seems practical enough. kinda what i thought, but its hard talking him into tapping new nice paint.

[BR3W CITY]

I guess you could also get a u bolt from a leaf spring or similar and drill new holes in the mounting bracket. You could effectively clamp the column into place.

[1Bad62Pro/Street]

Flaming River
http://www.flamingriver.com/
IDIDIT
http://www.ididitinc.com/universal_s...lumn_shift.htm
Eckler’s Classic Chevy Trucks
Chevy Truck Tilt Steering Column, Chrome Steel, ididit, Floor Shift, 1960-1966
http://www.ecklerstrucks.com/chevy-t...1960-1966.html