2wd vs 4wd steering columns?

[C15_Sierra]

Are there different steering column linkages for 2wd vs. 4wd?

The one on the left is the column from my truck, a 1980 C15 Sierra (base model) 2wd, column shift. The one on the right is from a 1980 K10 Custom Deluxe 4spd floor shift. I want to put the floor shift column in my truck because I'm converting to floor shift, and I thought a 1980 is a 1980. Only difference is 2wd vs 4wd, as they're both base models w/ power steering

Anyone got any insight? Thanks

[J Knight]

Got pics of the intermidiate shafts?

[C15_Sierra]

You mean the shaft between the column and the steering box?

Only on the C15, not the K10

[C15_Sierra]

Also, forgot to add...

The C15 column is an automatic, column shift
The K10 column is a manual, floor shift

[J Knight]

Actually I wanted to see the end of the intermediate shaft where it conects to the gear box.

[J Knight]

I see you have a 2wd, you will need to get the right intermidiate shaft to make the new column fit. It looks like its an auto so you will hopefully the shifter you are installing has provisions for neutral safety and reverse lights because the floor shift column wont.

[C15_Sierra]

[C15_Sierra]

Haha the NSS wasn't hooked up on the auto column (it was bypassed by the PO). This is actually the second time (apparently) the truck's been converted. It was originally a 3spd on the tree, then converted to a TH350, now I'm converting to a 4L60E floor shift. New shifter (B&M Truck MegaShifter) has provisions for NSS and reverse lights

Thanks for the info...does the 4wd intermediate shaft fit the 2wd steering box?

[J Knight]

Not sure, but you can get a 2wd intermediate shaft that fits that floor shift column. 81-87 I-shafts will work.

[C15_Sierra]

Good to know...thanks!

[Tex_50613]

if you get a k-series intermediate shaft from the rag joint up it will bolt rite in in my personal expearance

[C15_Sierra]

Cool...I helped a friend pull a 350 out of an '86 K20 last week, I've got to find time to drive up to his shop and pull the intermediate shaft to see if it'll bolt up. Hopefully there's no difference 1/2 ton vs. 3/4 ton

[Tex_50613]

Originally Posted by C15_Sierra

Cool...I helped a friend pull a 350 out of an '86 K20 last week, I've got to find time to drive up to his shop and pull the intermediate shaft to see if it'll bolt up. Hopefully there's no difference 1/2 ton vs. 3/4 ton

they are the same

[C15_Sierra]

I pulled the intermediate shaft from that K20 and it has the correct column joint (thru bolt).

Hopefully the steering box splines are the same lol (it would be just my luck they aren't)...will find out later!

[bikes&bowties]

I've never found problems on them when doing 4x4 conversions.. So I believe they are the same..
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[C15_Sierra]

Last night I figured I'd switch over the ignition switches, because the one I took out of my truck looks to be new and the one from the donor column has been sitting 15 years.

The weird thing was that the ignition tumbler on the column-shift column (?) works in reverse from the donor floor shift column. The floor shift switch moves away from the driver when turning to crank, the column shift works in the opposite way (moves toward driver when turning to crank). So I'll have to see if the old switch works...

Coupled with the fact that the column shift column was splined, I'm wondering where it came from - I know the truck was originally a 3 speed column shift manual, and when I bought it, it had been converted to a 3 speed auto (and had the correct auto shifter) so the column isn't original...weird