A couple ?'s on van tilt columns - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**t76turbo** · 03-16-2011, 10:12 PM

The truck I bought had a tilt column in it. I assume it's a van column.

It has a few issues.

-Doesnt light up
-The indicator that moves with the shift lever is broken off flush.
-Hole for pin holding the shift lever is wallowed out.

The gear indicator doesn't light up so I started looking for a bulb or fiber optic. From what I read about the van columns, there is a gray wire that powers the indicator.

I had seen the gray wire coiled up under the dash so I fed 12 volts using my PowerProbe III and got no light. The PowerProbe connects to positive and neg on your battery and will tell you if you are probing a ground or hot wire. It did not indicate either. Almost like the wire is completely isolated.

I pulled the little housing with the gear letters on it and didnt see any kind of bulb under it.

Also, the actual indicator must have gotten broken off and was painted over.

Can someone provide some guidance on what I should check next or what I can replace/rebuild?

If I cant get this thing working I may eventually replace it with an aftermarket column. The pin in the shift lever has wallowed the hole so I assume thats just one more issue to try and fix.

On a side note about this column, there is no neutral safety switch at the bottom of the column. So I have no idea how he got past that. But it's working.

JimKshortstep4x4 · 03-17-2011, 05:25 AM

A new indicator is available for your tilt.

The bulbs are covered with a tin cover and green cap and you should be able to see it with the shift housing removed.The bulb socket could have been removed at one time as they just attach to the TS switch.

Did you check to see if the truck will start in any gear? There are neutral safety switches that attach to the transmission.

Does your back up lights work?

Jim

**t76turbo** · 03-17-2011, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimKshortstep4x4

A new indicator is available for your tilt.

The bulbs are covered with a tin cover and green cap and you should be able to see it with the shift housing removed.The bulb socket could have been removed at one time as they just attach to the TS switch.

Did you check to see if the truck will start in any gear? There are neutral safety switches that attach to the transmission.

Does your back up lights work?

Jim

I will look again under that shift housing. When I looked I didnt immediately see anything that looked removable and everything was sprayed black. But it was dark and I was using a small flashlight. I will look today after work.

I have not tried starting in a gear but will today as well just to see.

The truck was converted to auto trans. I believe a 700r4. And a newer style vortec sbc at the same time. So I am trying to trace what issues may be because of the swap.

There are NO reverse lights.

**t76turbo** · 03-17-2011, 04:56 PM

Ok.....

YES, the truck will start with it in gear. I foot braked the truck and had the emergency brake on and turned the key and it turned over but did not move. I assume because of the brakes.

Second, I took some pics of the column. The silver thing in the picture is metal. It had been painted over but I scratched the paint off to see if it was a bulb. I wonder if this is the backside of a bulb reflector?

JimKshortstep4x4 · 03-17-2011, 07:37 PM

Your light is missing the green cap. The silver piece is a cover that will slip off of the bulb so you can remove the bulb. If you notice the silver cap has a slot in it to let the light through.

Jim

**t76turbo** · 03-17-2011, 08:32 PM

Thanks. I pulled the metal cover off and the bulb is burnt out. I had another with the same base but larger glass and I tried it. It worked fine. So I will get one from the parts store tomorrow.

I will start my search on how to replace the indicator itself as well as where to buy a replacement green cover.

Can you point me in the right direction? I will google now just in case it was already talked about.

Thanks for all the help.

**t76turbo** · 03-17-2011, 08:56 PM

Classic Heartbeat to the rescue. I have the indicator on the way. I appreciate the time they took on the phone with me.

The green part wasn't available but will continue looking for that.

**70shortfleet** · 03-17-2011, 09:59 PM

Turn the plastic lens that goes in the indicator around it is in backwards!

03-16-2011, 10:12 PM	#1
t76turbo Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: N.E. Florida Posts: 215	A couple ?'s on van tilt columns The truck I bought had a tilt column in it. I assume it's a van column. It has a few issues. -Doesnt light up -The indicator that moves with the shift lever is broken off flush. -Hole for pin holding the shift lever is wallowed out. The gear indicator doesn't light up so I started looking for a bulb or fiber optic. From what I read about the van columns, there is a gray wire that powers the indicator. I had seen the gray wire coiled up under the dash so I fed 12 volts using my PowerProbe III and got no light. The PowerProbe connects to positive and neg on your battery and will tell you if you are probing a ground or hot wire. It did not indicate either. Almost like the wire is completely isolated. I pulled the little housing with the gear letters on it and didnt see any kind of bulb under it. Also, the actual indicator must have gotten broken off and was painted over. Can someone provide some guidance on what I should check next or what I can replace/rebuild? If I cant get this thing working I may eventually replace it with an aftermarket column. The pin in the shift lever has wallowed the hole so I assume thats just one more issue to try and fix. On a side note about this column, there is no neutral safety switch at the bottom of the column. So I have no idea how he got past that. But it's working. __________________ 1970 Shortbed 2wd C-10

03-17-2011, 05:25 AM	#2
JimKshortstep4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Muskegon,MI,USA Posts: 6,026	Re: A couple ?'s on van tilt columns A new indicator is available for your tilt. The bulbs are covered with a tin cover and green cap and you should be able to see it with the shift housing removed.The bulb socket could have been removed at one time as they just attach to the TS switch. Did you check to see if the truck will start in any gear? There are neutral safety switches that attach to the transmission. Does your back up lights work? Jim __________________ 1971 Shortbox step side 4x4, 350 sbc, 3:07 rear end 1965 Impala SS 400 sbc, Muncie rock crusher 1966 Impala SS 396 bbc, TH 400 1969 El Camino, 350 sbc, TH 350 1971 Snowplow built on a Blazer frame 1972 GMC Short bed, stepside, TH 400, 427 BBC

03-17-2011, 04:56 PM	#4
t76turbo Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: N.E. Florida Posts: 215	Re: A couple ?'s on van tilt columns Ok..... YES, the truck will start with it in gear. I foot braked the truck and had the emergency brake on and turned the key and it turned over but did not move. I assume because of the brakes. Second, I took some pics of the column. The silver thing in the picture is metal. It had been painted over but I scratched the paint off to see if it was a bulb. I wonder if this is the backside of a bulb reflector? __________________ 1970 Shortbed 2wd C-10

03-17-2011, 07:37 PM	#5
JimKshortstep4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Muskegon,MI,USA Posts: 6,026	Re: A couple ?'s on van tilt columns Your light is missing the green cap. The silver piece is a cover that will slip off of the bulb so you can remove the bulb. If you notice the silver cap has a slot in it to let the light through. Jim __________________ 1971 Shortbox step side 4x4, 350 sbc, 3:07 rear end 1965 Impala SS 400 sbc, Muncie rock crusher 1966 Impala SS 396 bbc, TH 400 1969 El Camino, 350 sbc, TH 350 1971 Snowplow built on a Blazer frame 1972 GMC Short bed, stepside, TH 400, 427 BBC

03-17-2011, 08:32 PM	#6
t76turbo Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: N.E. Florida Posts: 215	Re: A couple ?'s on van tilt columns Thanks. I pulled the metal cover off and the bulb is burnt out. I had another with the same base but larger glass and I tried it. It worked fine. So I will get one from the parts store tomorrow. I will start my search on how to replace the indicator itself as well as where to buy a replacement green cover. Can you point me in the right direction? I will google now just in case it was already talked about. Thanks for all the help. __________________ 1970 Shortbed 2wd C-10

03-17-2011, 08:56 PM	#7
t76turbo Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: N.E. Florida Posts: 215	Re: A couple ?'s on van tilt columns Classic Heartbeat to the rescue. I have the indicator on the way. I appreciate the time they took on the phone with me. The green part wasn't available but will continue looking for that. __________________ 1970 Shortbed 2wd C-10

03-17-2011, 09:59 PM	#8
70shortfleet Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: St.Peters, MO Posts: 2,226	Re: A couple ?'s on van tilt columns Turn the plastic lens that goes in the indicator around it is in backwards!



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