tilt steering column swap - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

camelot · 06-10-2003, 11:28 AM

Hi All, I am new to the board and am restoring a '72 GMC. The engine goes in this weekend so maybe it will be on the road soon.

I need a new steering column so I am going to put in a tilt. I wanted a factory lookin one so I was shopping around for a rebuilt one. I can find them - but no shifters. Apparently GM stopped making them and everyone is waiting for someone else to make them. I was able to find an original tilt that has not been rebuilt. Any opinions on which is better. An OEM that is iffy or a rebuilt van column.

For the van column: I know that the shaft is about 3 inches longer so I have to colapse the column that much to make it fit. The part that concerns me is the neutral safety switch. I have to move it on the van column. Is this a big deal? I couldn't find any write ups on it and any advise would be great.

p.s. Anyone from the San Jose, CA area??

70 longbed · 06-10-2003, 11:46 AM

There are columns with shifters out there. I do not know how many of the supporting vendors, (vendors listed on the home page), have them, but I know that Rick's Pickup Parts has one; I think he gets $50 dollars for a rechromed one. I bought my rebuilt column from the Truck and Car Shop, and it came with a new tilt and signal lever, and a used shift lever, all included in the price.

JimKshortstep4x4 · 06-10-2003, 12:45 PM

Here is some information on the van tilt neutral safety switch move with a picture.

Jim

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...threadid=55035

dinnut · 06-10-2003, 01:19 PM

i think one of my catalogs has em. but i dont know.

camelot · 06-10-2003, 07:07 PM

I found one!!! Thanx for the posts. The link lead me to another post with a company name. I called them and they had one complete factory rebuilt tilt column left!!!! (There site was screwed up so I had passed them up when looking previously.)

Got it from "Christian's".

The problem was never finding the column, I actually found a few. No one had the shift lever for it. The wait was anywhere from 4 weeks to 6 months. If you have any extra shift levers out there, there are people that need them.

Thank you again for your comments.:p

06-10-2003, 11:28 AM	#1
camelot Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Santa Clara, CA Posts: 39	tilt steering column swap Hi All, I am new to the board and am restoring a '72 GMC. The engine goes in this weekend so maybe it will be on the road soon. I need a new steering column so I am going to put in a tilt. I wanted a factory lookin one so I was shopping around for a rebuilt one. I can find them - but no shifters. Apparently GM stopped making them and everyone is waiting for someone else to make them. I was able to find an original tilt that has not been rebuilt. Any opinions on which is better. An OEM that is iffy or a rebuilt van column. For the van column: I know that the shaft is about 3 inches longer so I have to colapse the column that much to make it fit. The part that concerns me is the neutral safety switch. I have to move it on the van column. Is this a big deal? I couldn't find any write ups on it and any advise would be great. p.s. Anyone from the San Jose, CA area?? __________________ Camelot www.toyotagirl.com 1985 Chevy 4Runner 1972 GMC 4WD

06-10-2003, 11:46 AM	#2
70 longbed Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Sierra Vista, AZ Posts: 489	There are columns with shifters out there. I do not know how many of the supporting vendors, (vendors listed on the home page), have them, but I know that Rick's Pickup Parts has one; I think he gets $50 dollars for a rechromed one. I bought my rebuilt column from the Truck and Car Shop, and it came with a new tilt and signal lever, and a used shift lever, all included in the price. __________________ Keith 70 CST longbed in progress. Hoping to get it back on the road soon.

06-10-2003, 01:19 PM	#4
dinnut Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: missouri city, tx Posts: 4,486	i think one of my catalogs has em. but i dont know. __________________ 70 longbed 496/th400/Ford 9"

06-10-2003, 07:07 PM	#5
camelot Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Santa Clara, CA Posts: 39	Found it!! I found one!!! Thanx for the posts. The link lead me to another post with a company name. I called them and they had one complete factory rebuilt tilt column left!!!! (There site was screwed up so I had passed them up when looking previously.) Got it from "Christian's". The problem was never finding the column, I actually found a few. No one had the shift lever for it. The wait was anywhere from 4 weeks to 6 months. If you have any extra shift levers out there, there are people that need them. Thank you again for your comments.:p __________________ Camelot www.toyotagirl.com 1985 Chevy 4Runner 1972 GMC 4WD

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06-10-2003, 12:45 PM	#3
JimKshortstep4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Muskegon,MI,USA Posts: 6,026	Here is some information on the van tilt neutral safety switch move with a picture. Jim http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...threadid=55035



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