Tilt Column pics!

[65Guy]

I just got an 88 truck column. anyone ever us a newer truck column. Post up some pics!

[65Guy]

Come on guys. Im putting the 88 column in my 65 does any one have some pics of new columns in our trucks?

[Woogeroo]

Uhm... I've seen a few pics here and there... they never look right to me.

As for no replies, you posted on a Friday night... you may get some replies next week.

-W

[Clyde65]

I have put the 73 thru 87 tilts in and the 71-72 tilts in but not the 88 up tilts

[Turkey]

I did it in high school but that was in '87...if two high school kids can do it, it can't be that hard.

[kieth]

Heres one in my 66 gmc build, it is from a 91 suburban, I figured if I did not like it after I finished the truck I would just put a custom wheel in it. I used the 91 burb for , 350 tbi engine, trans 700r4, tilt, disc brakes, front crossmember, power steering , power brakes, cruise control, wiring, etc. only paid $600.00 for it. Kieth

http://kieth.smugmug.com/Trucks/66-G...738832_FCsG9GR


http://kieth.smugmug.com/Trucks/66-G...738746_6RPBQ7f

[edflores]

Bump. it shouldnt be that different from a 73-87 should it?
I want to do the same. The key tilt and shifter will work great in my truck

[Clyde65]

If it is from the 88 newer trucks it might be totally different, 65Guy is it or is it from a square body?

[BR3W CITY]

Aftermarket tilt in my 66

[Clyde65]

Show off!

[kieth]

Originally Posted by Clyde65

If it is from the 88 newer trucks it might be totally different, 65Guy is it or is it from a square body?

pick up trucks from 88 on were different but suburbans did not change until 1992.........Kieth

[kieth]

Originally Posted by edflores

Bump. it shouldnt be that different from a 73-87 should it?
I want to do the same. The key tilt and shifter will work great in my truck

The suburbans are the same up thru 1991 so the install will be the same,
here is a link where we show what had to be done to install the newer column in the 66 gmc. go through the gallery one picture at a time and it should be pretty self explanatory. If you would like to talk to me about it call me at the office 918-446-2245 Kieth

first step was merging the old and the new bracket
http://kieth.smugmug.com/Trucks/66-G...49353720_dNwFi


Next install the steering wheel with the merged bracket, we had to make sure it cleared the wiring from the 91 burb.

come to think of it I did not write this up very well, and it was not easy to do, we were just being cheap, Here is how this was done.

1. We used the wiring harness from a 1991 suburban, we also used the fuse panel from the same vehicle----In this way we did not have to worry about all the connections since we had all the stock 91 plugins.......

2. Then we welded and modified the 2 steering brackets from the 66 gmc and the 91 burb.

3. This allowed us to retain the brake pedal, brake light bracketry and the emergency brake lever from the 66 bmc......(blend the old with the new)

4. You will have to modify the firewall as shown to allow the neutral safety switch to clear the firewall (due to length)

5. You will have to shorten the steering shaft 1.5" approximately. This is a energy absorbing steering column so we drilled out the plastic in 2 holes , shortened the steering column and replaced the plastic with nylon bolts and nuts........

This is not for the faint hearted, a idit column would probably be cheaper....

Kieth

ps but being cheap we used it and it came out pretty good .....

[65Guy]

it is not from a square body it is the next year model and the gear selector is in a different spot.

[kieth]

Originally Posted by 65Guy

it is not from a square body it is the next year model and the gear selector is in a different spot.

You are correct, a 1988 pickup column is not the same as my 91 burb, but the wheel does work in my 66 gmc, I am having to come up with a shift indicator but will cross that bridge a little later. Kieth

[samuellg1977]

I put a 84 tilt column in my 63. It works, but i can't figure out the wiring for the horn, headlight dimmer, and i only get one speed on my wipers (go figure). It steers great and in all other aspects it is fine. I took the shifter handle off to run a floor shifter (cause i boogered up the column linkages) and I also had to bust up the ignition switch to unlock the column (cause i don't have the keys). Looks pretty ugly right now, but it works. Eventually, i will grind off and weld up the shifter and ignition openings and smooth it out. Til then, i'm gonna drive it like i stoled it!!

[kieth]

Samuel, that looks like the same column as my 91 burban column. As I stated suburbans are the same body as a 87 pickup the pickup changed in 1988. One small difference the bell at the base is different, mine was attached to the upper housing and moved. I had to modify it to remain in place while the top rotated when shifting.

[Chevy Fleetside]

I tried to put an 88 column in my 65 but gave up when it wasn't working for me. I will just stick to the van columns. Anything up to 1980 will work. I found one at pick n pull for $28 when they were having a 25% off sale.

[bubba327]

A 77 nova column . I removed all the locking mechanism , ground off the key and made a aluminum plug to close off the remaining key opening and epoxied and roll-pinned in place.
Spent a LOT of time fabricating to re-use the emergency brake lever but it works great ..