Question: 68 20 column in a 66 C10? Will it work?

[jesseo]

Checking to see if anyone knows if this will work w/o too much fab work? My steering column has been hacked up. I have access to a 68 C20 parts truck. Looking to pull column. 68 is non power steering. That will come later when I do complete front end.

[chevyrestoguy]

It's not a bolt in. The mounting location for the column mount under the dash is in a different location between the two generations. I was in this situation a while back when I was looking for an automatic column for my '64, and I had a spare '68 column. I reworked the '68 column by adding the nutplate structure from my old '64 manual column, and the column bolted in. I wound up buying a complete automatic column out of a '65, and the hybrid '64/'68 column wound up getting stashed in my shed.

One thing to remember, though. The '67-up columns are much shorter columns on the firewall side because of the addition of the intermediate shaft between the end of the column and the steering box. The '60-'66 columns are a 1-piece shaft all the way to the steering box. If you want to make a "short" column, you can make a "hybrid" column by using a '67-'72 shaft inside a '60-'66 column housing if you want to add a steering u-joint, some 3'4" D-D shaft, and a rag joint at the steering box.

It's a GM, the options are endless!

[jesseo]

Thanks Chevyresto I pulled it today and got both pieces of the shaft. I will be frankeinshafting it this weekend. The old one has been hacked up by the PO and the shaft has a lot of wiggle inside the column and no horn. Crappy aftermarket blinkers and cut the tunnel out and a AM sunroof. Oh yeah stay on the column topic. Thanks for the tips.

[chevyrestoguy]

Jesse-
Feel free to ask any question you have. I'll tell you everything I know.

How badly is your '66 column hacked up? You can Frankenstein in either direction. From a fabrication standpoint, the lesser hassle is to retrofit your '66 column with a '68 shaft. If you need some parts for your '66 column, I may have some extra stuff laying around. If you need a '68 column shell that's been retrofitted to bolt into your '66, I have one, and you can use the '68 guts you already have. PM me if need to.

[jesseo]

Originally Posted by chevyrestoguy

Jesse-
Feel free to ask any question you have. I'll tell you everything I know.

How badly is your '66 column hacked up? You can Frankenstein in either direction. From a fabrication standpoint, the lesser hassle is to retrofit your '66 column with a '68 shaft. If you need some parts for your '66 column, I may have some extra stuff laying around. If you need a '68 column shell that's been retrofitted to bolt into your '66, I have one, and you can use the '68 guts you already have. PM me if need to.

I am looking to get a column that will work with blinkers and horn for least expensive as possible. Shifter already on the floor. I'll play with what I have and if it drives my crazy this weekend I may be looking your direction. Love you build. Man you are light years ahead me in skills. I am a backyard tinkerer but hope to gain skills as I go and listen and learn. Everyone on here is very cool. I have a diesel Mercedes as my daily driver and the forums are well not filled with the same quality of people as here. There are a few for sure but not the majority like on here.

[chevyrestoguy]

Thanks for the nice compliment. I honed my skills just like you are doing now. I was one of those guys who wanted nice stuff, but didn't want to spend big bucks. I like making something safe and presentable using easy to access, inexpensive parts. Do a little homework, a little nip and tuck, some grinding and sanding, primer and paint, and BAM, you've got a piece that looks factory for hardly any money. That stuff is what makes our hobby fun.
Anybody can open up a catalog and put it all on a credit card, but when the bill comes due, it's not so fun anymore.

Anything I can do to help, don't hestitate to ask.