How can u ID a van tilt from a truck tilt once installed? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**ScottH** · 08-27-2003, 12:34 PM

Picking up a 72 this weekend with a tilt wheel. The column is black with the rest of the interior blue, so I suspect it was installed later on (I know, check the options list, but it was late and I looked quickly at it).

Is there an easy way to tell if it was a van tilt installed vs an original truck column?

Any info is appreciated. Thanks.

71GMC_3/4T · 08-27-2003, 12:39 PM

I thought you had to drill out a rivet in the shaft and slide it to make it fit and rerivet it. If there's a bolt or crappy rivet job, you probably have a van retrofit.

**CPNE** · 08-27-2003, 12:40 PM

All tilt columns were black regardless of the interior color, so don't let that be your guide.

JimKshortstep4x4 · 08-27-2003, 01:20 PM

The surest way to tell is to look at how much shaft sticks out of the column at the rag joint. Trucks have approximately 1", Vans have approximately 5".

Jim

**ScottH** · 08-27-2003, 07:30 PM

Thanks to everyone for the great info. BTW, Jeff any idea of why tilts were always in black?

*rickspickuppart* · 08-27-2003, 07:37 PM

the shift handles are different (vans don't go out as far as a truck one and has harder bends), a van one won't fit in a truck without shortening the shaft so once it is in and has the correct handle on it they are basicaly the same

**CPNE** · 08-27-2003, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ScottH
Thanks to everyone for the great info. BTW, Jeff any idea of why tilts were always in black?

My guess is economics. Few tilts were installed and making them all black meant they would "go" with any interior color.

Rod · 08-27-2003, 10:27 PM

Real tilt coulmn end shaft length. This one's an automatic but the 4 spd are the same lenght also.

Rod · 08-27-2003, 10:30 PM

And van ones like this have a longer end shaft lenght .. like this column. So there a recognizable difference you can look for without have to look to hard for other differences. Rod

da-burb · 08-27-2003, 10:36 PM

Here is a side-by-side look.

Longhorn Man · 08-27-2003, 11:41 PM

Some of the early van tilts had the exact same shifter, and the older ones also had the 1/2 mool signal plug instead of the flat one.
The best way is the shaft though.
Also on shortening the intermidiate shaft, there is no reason to re-rivit it. It still has a few inches to colapse so it is still better than the 68 and older though.
Putting new rivit s in is a waste of drill bits and lots of time.

08-27-2003, 12:34 PM	#1
ScottH Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Hampstead, NC Posts: 8,187	How can u ID a van tilt from a truck tilt once installed? Picking up a 72 this weekend with a tilt wheel. The column is black with the rest of the interior blue, so I suspect it was installed later on (I know, check the options list, but it was late and I looked quickly at it). Is there an easy way to tell if it was a van tilt installed vs an original truck column? Any info is appreciated. Thanks.

08-27-2003, 12:39 PM	#2
71GMC_3/4T Weapons Of Construction Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 1,095	I thought you had to drill out a rivet in the shaft and slide it to make it fit and rerivet it. If there's a bolt or crappy rivet job, you probably have a van retrofit. __________________ 1971 GMC 2500, 402/TH400 4.10 Daily Driver Lafayette, CO

08-27-2003, 12:40 PM	#3
CPNE Resident Curmudgeon Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: NH Posts: 6,664	All tilt columns were black regardless of the interior color, so don't let that be your guide. __________________ Currently on or near the homestead: 67 Chevy SWB 2WD stepside 350/3 on tree (Pat's) 67 GMC SWB 2WD Fleet 402/auto (Brian's under construction) 67 Chevy 3/4 ton 2WD 402/auto (Business Hauler) 67 Chevy 1 ton dually 2WD 396/4 speed (Former business hauler, Needs TLC) 68 Chevy 1/2 ton Suburban 2WD 250 six/3 on tree (Brian's Needs TLC) 70 Chevy 3/4 ton 4WD 350/4 speed (Pat's - Disguised as a 68 GMC) 71 Chevy SWB stepside (Crushed by tree - parts donor) 72 Chevy 3/4 ton 4WD (Parts donor) 72 Chevy 3/4 ton 4WD Suburban (Parts Donor) 72 GMC 3/4 ton 4WD 292 six/4 speed (Mine - Disguised as a 67 GMC) 81 GMC 4WD Dually Dump Body 350/4 speed (Business Hauler) 82 Camaro Z/28 355/Super T-10 (Pat's toy) 93 Caprice 9C1 (Brian's Cop Car) 02 Toyota Camry (Reliable but a souless steel and plastic hulk) 2011 2SS RS Camaro M6 Factory Hurst Shifter Maybe I need to sell some of this crap Yet another Bozo with a sawz-all

08-27-2003, 10:27 PM	#8
Rod Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Eastern - Manitoba Canada, Winnipeg Posts: 4,369	Real tilt coulmn end shaft length. This one's an automatic but the 4 spd are the same lenght also. Attached Images __________________ Senior active founding member. 70 3/4 ton GMC Suburban 4x4 250/4 spd. 71 1/2 ton Suburban Chevy 4x4, 350/350 72 Chev 1 ton tow truck 402BB w/Holmes 440 wrecker on propane 2005 FLSTSCI Harley Springer 85 FXSB Harley Lowrider 72 Triumph 650 Bonneville 5spd "Poor people don't have hobbies" Quote from wife.

08-27-2003, 10:30 PM	#9
Rod Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Eastern - Manitoba Canada, Winnipeg Posts: 4,369	And van ones like this have a longer end shaft lenght .. like this column. So there a recognizable difference you can look for without have to look to hard for other differences. Rod Attached Images __________________ Senior active founding member. 70 3/4 ton GMC Suburban 4x4 250/4 spd. 71 1/2 ton Suburban Chevy 4x4, 350/350 72 Chev 1 ton tow truck 402BB w/Holmes 440 wrecker on propane 2005 FLSTSCI Harley Springer 85 FXSB Harley Lowrider 72 Triumph 650 Bonneville 5spd "Poor people don't have hobbies" Quote from wife.

08-27-2003, 01:20 PM	#4
JimKshortstep4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Muskegon,MI,USA Posts: 6,026	The surest way to tell is to look at how much shaft sticks out of the column at the rag joint. Trucks have approximately 1", Vans have approximately 5". Jim

08-27-2003, 07:30 PM	#5
ScottH Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Hampstead, NC Posts: 8,187	Thanks to everyone for the great info. BTW, Jeff any idea of why tilts were always in black?

08-27-2003, 07:37 PM	#6
rickspickuppart Account Suspended Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,284	the shift handles are different (vans don't go out as far as a truck one and has harder bends), a van one won't fit in a truck without shortening the shaft so once it is in and has the correct handle on it they are basicaly the same

08-27-2003, 10:36 PM	#10
da-burb "Ochre Ogre" Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Springfield, MN Posts: 3,558	Here is a side-by-side look. Attached Images __________________ Bowtie Truck Stop Inc. Mid-West GM Truck Restoration Parts Supplier Your Key Parts, Auto Metal Direct, Dynacorn, and Goodmark dealer. like us @ www.facebook.com/BowtieTruckStop 1971 C-10 Suburban (Ochre) 1971 K-10 Suburban (Ochre) 1972 C-10 Suburban (Ochre) 1972 K-20 Suburban (Yellow- that just aint right!) Springfield, Minnesota 56087

08-27-2003, 11:41 PM	#11
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Some of the early van tilts had the exact same shifter, and the older ones also had the 1/2 mool signal plug instead of the flat one. The best way is the shaft though. Also on shortening the intermidiate shaft, there is no reason to re-rivit it. It still has a few inches to colapse so it is still better than the 68 and older though. Putting new rivit s in is a waste of drill bits and lots of time.



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