Wiring Turn Signals

[Matador]

I have a 1987 Chevy R-10 Custom Deluxe. I'm looking to get it on the road, but I've got some electrical gremlins to sort out. First off, my turn signal lever doesn't connect to the plates within the steering column. The plastic sliding plates are damaged. The other functions of the lever work (brights and wipers). The lever hangs like limp spaghetti.

I can turn the plates in the column by hand with the wheel pulled off, and activate the turn signals. This could be an issue driving, though. I don't want to have to remove the steering wheel every time I have to make a left. That could grow old pretty quickly! I don't want to use hand signals in December- I don't think that half of the drivers understand them anyways.

So, my thought is to wire a toggle switch somewhere into the dashboard. I'm assuming that the On-Off-On type is best. However, I need a little knowledge on how to do this:

Where do I find all the wires for the sides, how would I connect them, what would I do for fuses, and do I need to move the flasher canister off of the fuse block.

Any help would be appreciated!

[J Knight]

This seems somewhat of an excessive solution or fix than to just changing the turn signal switch.

[79Betty]

It's not hard to replace a turn signal switch. Just whatever you take out lay down one after another and put back together in reverse.
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[Phillip Pennartz]

I saw a cool turn signal switch system in a city bus. The bus had two buttons on the floor . Step on the left button to indicate left. right button for right.

[Matador]

Just the switch would fix it? The multifunction lever isn't connecting with the two sliding "plates" in the column. If I turn the plates, the contacts are touched and I get turn signals. The arm is limp in the up/down direction (Pull up and let go, and it will fall into the left turn position). I had to replace the lock cylinder a long time ago in the dark. I think something came out of the column. Since I did that, the signal lever has never worked. Any tips?

[J Knight]

This is what the whole switch looks like. You probably lost one or both of the return springs.

[79Betty]

Of you say the stick is limp you could of dropped the screw that holds it tight to the switch. Sounds like that is what it is since ya can still get your switch to work...
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[Matador]

J Knight's image looks to be exactly what I'm seeing in the column. I'll take a look when the rain stops here. If I lost the return springs, what would that mean? Would it just force me to manually cancel the turn signal lever, or would it mean something worse?

Do I just line the screw up with the lever and attach the two? I can't seem to find the exact part- I'm assuming that just a phillips screw from the hardware store would work? If this is it (I think I saw a hole where the screw should go through the switch to connect the lever), does anyone know the size or length of the screw?

Thanks for the help!