steer me straight... - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

59weasel · 03-14-2014, 01:50 PM

hey everyone,
started mocking up the steering column last night, and not getting the warm & fuzzy from it. came frome a 85 GMC 4x4 pickup. kinda ugly and seems to long, it's just kinda close to me in the drivers position. so was wondering what people have used or done to their trucks? any help on year/make/model of donor columns would be great.

thanks all.

**mr48chev** · 03-14-2014, 04:38 PM

That is one of those issues that every one of us fights when we build an early truck.

As for myself I am pretty well decided that I am going to use the column out of a 70 Chev C10 4 speed truck that had belonged to my son and I later totaled. The column is clean and simple and with an adapter you can use any custom wheel or use a lot of GM wheels without an adapter. The turn signal switch and other parts are also readily available. The rub for most is that it is not a tilt.

A popular one is the tilt out of a Chevy van. I'm not positive of the years but it is the column that does not have a built in ignition switch. That makes it a lot less bulky and cumbersome than the ones with the built in switch.

Wheelie · 03-14-2014, 04:45 PM

get a basic ididit or flaming river column and be done w it. Sometimes spending more on parts saves you a lot of future headache.

_Ogre · 03-14-2014, 05:07 PM

i guess i'm more on the cheap end... the more you save the less it cost

86 gmc safari van column (same as chevy astro van) cost me $35 at the junkyard
key, shift, turn, hazard, neutral safety switch, tilt wheel and cruise button all included for free
would have been $680 for flaming river; yeow!

Wheelie · 03-14-2014, 10:25 PM

man Ogre that looks good!

**mr48chev** · 03-14-2014, 11:26 PM

That does look pretty good Ogre but it does have that "big bulky" look to it that he doesn't care for with the other column he has that is quite similar.

As you said, the Flaming River or Idit column while being very nice are fairly spendy for some guys build budgets. I do suggest if a guy does use an aftermarket tilt column he uses one or the other and not one of the knockoff's that are known to fail on an all too regular basis.

59Weasel here is a link to a thread on Hotrodders . com showing the mid 70's Chevy van tilt in the first two posts. If I was running a column shift automatic and wanted a clean and simple tilt that is what I would hunt down.

I just figured out that you are about 180 miles straight down 97 from me.

**Dan in Pasadena** · 03-15-2014, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr48chev

....59Weasel here is a link to a thread on Hotrodders . com showing the mid 70's Chevy van tilt in the first two posts....

No linky!

59weasel · 03-16-2014, 11:22 PM

Yes sir mr48chev, been through there a few times headed to the gorge at George.
So it looks like it's a new column or i'm on the hunt for a late 60's - to the mid 70's column. with not alot of "junk" on it. no dis-resepct Ogre your truck is sick for sure, just want a cleaner column sir.
Dang it just seen a early 70's chevy van at the u-pullit..... think it is gone now.
Thanks all for the info.

03-14-2014, 01:50 PM	#1
59weasel Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Redmond OR. Posts: 65	steer me straight... hey everyone, started mocking up the steering column last night, and not getting the warm & fuzzy from it. came frome a 85 GMC 4x4 pickup. kinda ugly and seems to long, it's just kinda close to me in the drivers position. so was wondering what people have used or done to their trucks? any help on year/make/model of donor columns would be great. thanks all. __________________ '59 SWB (the money pit) Camaro clip/5.3 LM7/700r4/10bolt rear/bagged/and some mild mods here and there. '93 Jeep Cherokee with some stuff. (the toy) '06 Silverado 2500HD (daily driver) '12 Equinox (wifes ride) '66 Chevy LWB (daughters ride)

03-14-2014, 04:38 PM	#2
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,706	Re: steer me straight... That is one of those issues that every one of us fights when we build an early truck. As for myself I am pretty well decided that I am going to use the column out of a 70 Chev C10 4 speed truck that had belonged to my son and I later totaled. The column is clean and simple and with an adapter you can use any custom wheel or use a lot of GM wheels without an adapter. The turn signal switch and other parts are also readily available. The rub for most is that it is not a tilt. A popular one is the tilt out of a Chevy van. I'm not positive of the years but it is the column that does not have a built in ignition switch. That makes it a lot less bulky and cumbersome than the ones with the built in switch. __________________ 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.

03-14-2014, 04:45 PM	#3
Wheelie Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Plano, TX Posts: 319	Re: steer me straight... get a basic ididit or flaming river column and be done w it. Sometimes spending more on parts saves you a lot of future headache. __________________ My '59 Build Thread

03-14-2014, 05:07 PM	#4
_Ogre Registered User Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Motown Posts: 7,680	Re: steer me straight... i guess i'm more on the cheap end... the more you save the less it cost 86 gmc safari van column (same as chevy astro van) cost me $35 at the junkyard key, shift, turn, hazard, neutral safety switch, tilt wheel and cruise button all included for free would have been $680 for flaming river; yeow! __________________ cool, an ogre smiley Ogre's 58 Truk build how to put your truck year and build thread into your signature shop air compressor timer

03-14-2014, 10:25 PM	#5
Wheelie Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Plano, TX Posts: 319	Re: steer me straight... man Ogre that looks good! __________________ My '59 Build Thread

03-14-2014, 11:26 PM	#6
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,706	Re: steer me straight... That does look pretty good Ogre but it does have that "big bulky" look to it that he doesn't care for with the other column he has that is quite similar. As you said, the Flaming River or Idit column while being very nice are fairly spendy for some guys build budgets. I do suggest if a guy does use an aftermarket tilt column he uses one or the other and not one of the knockoff's that are known to fail on an all too regular basis. 59Weasel here is a link to a thread on Hotrodders . com showing the mid 70's Chevy van tilt in the first two posts. If I was running a column shift automatic and wanted a clean and simple tilt that is what I would hunt down. I just figured out that you are about 180 miles straight down 97 from me. __________________ 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.

03-16-2014, 11:22 PM	#8
59weasel Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Redmond OR. Posts: 65	Re: steer me straight... Yes sir mr48chev, been through there a few times headed to the gorge at George. So it looks like it's a new column or i'm on the hunt for a late 60's - to the mid 70's column. with not alot of "junk" on it. no dis-resepct Ogre your truck is sick for sure, just want a cleaner column sir. Dang it just seen a early 70's chevy van at the u-pullit..... think it is gone now. Thanks all for the info. __________________ '59 SWB (the money pit) Camaro clip/5.3 LM7/700r4/10bolt rear/bagged/and some mild mods here and there. '93 Jeep Cherokee with some stuff. (the toy) '06 Silverado 2500HD (daily driver) '12 Equinox (wifes ride) '66 Chevy LWB (daughters ride)



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