steering column install problems - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

tommie · 07-23-2003, 12:00 AM

i am in the process of a bunch of things, but the one that is giving me the most headaches is the steering column

my truck is a 70 chevy which had a three on the tree,

i swapped out that column with a column from a 71, with auto on the column,

i also swapped out the brake pedal bracket and pedal.

anyway, the auto column seems to be too high and slightly over to the left, espically when compared to the guages, and the rubber grommet at the guages dosen't fit, the column is up against the lower part of the guages.

has anyone done this swap before?

is there something else that i need?

what did i do wrong?

help?

thanks
tommie

bigvinnie · 07-23-2003, 12:14 AM

if it's really a column from a 71 truck, and you have the right column bracket under the dash, it should be a slam dunk...

The column should be movable so that you can center it properly...describe how you've installed it... the under dash bracket should be installed loosely at first so you can get the firewall bracket and steering box connections attached, then you can start tightening things down...

tommie · 07-23-2003, 12:47 AM

the column is out of a friend's 71' he is switching over to a tilt, so he gave me his non tilt.

the column bracket i have is the one that was in the truck. it had a 3 sp manual on the column, is this different?

i have tried everything i can to center it, and tighten it. i tightened the bracket and clamp at the firewall 1st, then the other under the dash, and i've done it the other way.

the line up pin under the dash, is it different between the two trucks?

to me, it seems like that is where the problem is. but im not sure.

seems like everytime i do something i run into problems, i will be soo glad when i can actually drive this truck instead of working on it all the time.

thanks for repling bigvinnie

JimKshortstep4x4 · 07-23-2003, 08:42 AM

You should not be having thse kind of problems with a stock steering column.

Is the lower column support in place? It sounds like your lower bracket is riding on the little "bumps" that are at the lower end.

Jim

bigvinnie · 07-23-2003, 11:26 AM

I would say if everything is loose and you're unable to get the column centered at the under-dash bracket, you either have the wrong bracket, the wrong column, or both...

I swapped my 3 speed manual column for a factory tilt and had no problems, but I used all the bracketry that came with the tilt...

07-23-2003, 12:00 AM	#1
tommie 97' Tahoe 2dr/2wd Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Huffman,TX Posts: 1,168	steering column install problems i am in the process of a bunch of things, but the one that is giving me the most headaches is the steering column my truck is a 70 chevy which had a three on the tree, i swapped out that column with a column from a 71, with auto on the column, i also swapped out the brake pedal bracket and pedal. anyway, the auto column seems to be too high and slightly over to the left, espically when compared to the guages, and the rubber grommet at the guages dosen't fit, the column is up against the lower part of the guages. has anyone done this swap before? is there something else that i need? what did i do wrong? help? thanks tommie

07-23-2003, 12:14 AM	#2
bigvinnie Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: escondido, ca 92026 Posts: 1,222	if it's really a column from a 71 truck, and you have the right column bracket under the dash, it should be a slam dunk... The column should be movable so that you can center it properly...describe how you've installed it... the under dash bracket should be installed loosely at first so you can get the firewall bracket and steering box connections attached, then you can start tightening things down... __________________ '72 short step, 350, 700R4, tilt, ps, pdb, a/c, lowered coils, etc., other work in progress... San Diego, CA 72 Stepside Project

07-23-2003, 11:26 AM	#5
bigvinnie Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: escondido, ca 92026 Posts: 1,222	I would say if everything is loose and you're unable to get the column centered at the under-dash bracket, you either have the wrong bracket, the wrong column, or both... I swapped my 3 speed manual column for a factory tilt and had no problems, but I used all the bracketry that came with the tilt... __________________ '72 short step, 350, 700R4, tilt, ps, pdb, a/c, lowered coils, etc., other work in progress... San Diego, CA 72 Stepside Project Last edited by bigvinnie; 07-23-2003 at 12:54 PM.

07-23-2003, 12:47 AM	#3
tommie 97' Tahoe 2dr/2wd Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Huffman,TX Posts: 1,168	the column is out of a friend's 71' he is switching over to a tilt, so he gave me his non tilt. the column bracket i have is the one that was in the truck. it had a 3 sp manual on the column, is this different? i have tried everything i can to center it, and tighten it. i tightened the bracket and clamp at the firewall 1st, then the other under the dash, and i've done it the other way. the line up pin under the dash, is it different between the two trucks? to me, it seems like that is where the problem is. but im not sure. seems like everytime i do something i run into problems, i will be soo glad when i can actually drive this truck instead of working on it all the time. thanks for repling bigvinnie

07-23-2003, 08:42 AM	#4
JimKshortstep4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Muskegon,MI,USA Posts: 6,026	You should not be having thse kind of problems with a stock steering column. Is the lower column support in place? It sounds like your lower bracket is riding on the little "bumps" that are at the lower end. Jim



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