65 Steering column from Van?

[Steve Van Gent]

GOt some bad news from Z Poppy, column he had I wanted is trashed. Local chevy guy wants to sell me tilt/auto from 70 Chevy van, says slight mod to column to move reverse/neutral switch, and will bolt into my 65. Says 65 - 70 truck columns with auto are hard find and crazy expensive. ANyone tried this? I dont need the tilt, I do want auto.

Any other suggestions?

[Eagar1]

The neutral switch ends up in the engine bay on the later model truck columns, not sure if the van column is the same way. You may be further ahead just to use a cable operated floor shifter, or they do make mechanical shifters that bolt straight to the trans for a Manual Trans look. Here is a link on how somwone used an 83 truck tilt column.
http://www.persh.org/pickup/steering.htm

[Steve Van Gent]

No, I have floor shift (SUCKS) for 700R4 tempory only, just finished install. Now ready to do power steering/column swap/auto shift convert...

Making this truck my street rod, makes a much nicer look (in my opinion)...

[KevsClassics]

Yes I have installed this set up many many times. No need to move nuetral switch on van column just cut a notch out of lower bracket that holds column to dash. You will also need intermediate shaft from a 69-72 truck just drill out nylon rivets and colapse shaft to length you need.

[wild one]

These past posts might offer some help on this topic....

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=147927

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=133937

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=212227

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ad.php?t=63328

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=147355

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=157328

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=191143

Hope these help,
Pete

[Chevy Fleetside]

65 is a little differnt then the 67-72 trucks. Not much just a little. I have a 70's van column in my 65. I set it in place, and made some marks and welded two nuts on the column so I could mount it to the bracket. I used the lower from a 75 chevy truck. Just cut off the factory clamp that goes to the column and used a 36 spline to DD u joint. Works out nice when you are using a late model steering box.

[DPowers]

I used a tilt column from a '64 Impala. I attached it to the cradle under the dash with a stainless muffler clamp and the outside at the firewall with the original clamp. I had to trim a little of the cradle underneath for the turn signal switch on the column to clear.

[Steve Van Gent]

So, in the van convertion from FLEETSIDE, did the neutral lockout switch need to be moved/relocated? Also, it appears from Impala from DPOWERS that the steering wheel actually gives the driver more leg room than van conversion-is this true? Is it an advantage or a "dont care" detail?

Thanks,

Steve

[Chevy Fleetside]

I didn't hook up the neutral saftey switch the first time. This one is under there somewhere and I didn't move it. It is not hooked up yet as my truck is still in pieces.

[Steve Van Gent]

To be more clear about leg room, I think actually this is more of a telescoping issue. The Impala is further from driver, the Van is closer. Which is better?

[Oklahoma]

I put in one from a 93 S10 and it went in quick and easy. I like the way it looks and it works perfect with the 700R4, just havent figured out a shift indicator, but I'm smart enough to figure which gear I'm in.

[Oklahoma]

Wife yacking at me and I forgot to post the pic.

[Chevy Fleetside]

The van column could have been mounted farther down. This column is mounted for my arm lenth and comfort. If I had longer arms or a bigger belly I could have slid it down for more room.

[Steve Van Gent]

THanks for all the great photos and info;

NEXT QUESTION- Which is cheaper and more available, van or Impala?

[DPowers]

First of all I am a big guy and like the extra room. One of the reasons that I went with the Impala column was it was free... my wife's cousin was parting out an old truck and didn't know that the Impala column was in it until after he said "take whatever you want from the truck".... I think it would be a bit pricey if I had to purchase it. My levers are from a '64 jeep wagoneer that I found at Pull a Part and rethreaded.

[60apache]

Originally Posted by Chevy Fleetside

65 is a little differnt then the 67-72 trucks. Not much just a little. I have a 70's van column in my 65. I set it in place, and made some marks and welded two nuts on the column so I could mount it to the bracket. I used the lower from a 75 chevy truck. Just cut off the factory clamp that goes to the column and used a 36 spline to DD u joint. Works out nice when you are using a late model steering box.

where can I get one of those joints?

[brawley]

I used one from a van with the auto and tilt, got it from a junkyard for 50.00 and it worked out great. get the column and intermediate shaft down to the steering box.

[DPowers]

Originally Posted by 60apache

where can I get one of those joints?

http://www.borgeson.com/

Flaming River or Ididit has them too

[lenguini]

Were you able to use your original speedo cable when you went to automatic?
If yes great and I was thinking aout routing mine through the old e-bake hole.
Thoughts ?

Thank you,
Ed

Originally Posted by DPowers

First of all I am a big guy and like the extra room. One of the reasons that I went with the Impala column was it was free... my wife's cousin was parting out an old truck and didn't know that the Impala column was in it until after he said "take whatever you want from the truck".... I think it would be a bit pricey if I had to purchase it. My levers are from a '64 jeep wagoneer that I found at Pull a Part and rethreaded.

[DPowers]

I used the old one at first- but it was really really tight. It started to leak at the crimp connection- so just replaced it with a little longer one from Advance.

Originally Posted by lenguini

Were you able to use your original speedo cable when you went to automatic?
If yes great and I was thinking aout routing mine through the old e-bake hole.
Thoughts ?

Thank you,
Ed

[lenguini]

Greetings DPowers,just wanted to say thank you for the reply.I appreciate it.

[Chevy Fleetside]

Originally Posted by 60apache

where can I get one of those joints?

What DPowers said...