Another steering column question

[07SSSC]

First what's the difference between the columns through the various years?

Secondly , has anyone put a led/other device in place of the fibre optic cable for the indicator, or is it best to leave it be?

Thirdly, I keep seeing original styl turn signal switch and then a newer style, am I correct to assume the difference is in the hazard button and wiring connector?

-And if anyone has pics of their columns painted a color other then black post 'em up. I'm still debating on whether to go black or almond to match the rest of my interior. The column is brown right now, came out of a highly optioned truck.

EDIT: What's the 2"-ish oval hole in the firewall for that is just to the driver's right of the steering column pass through? The 3 67-72 trucks we have all have a cover over the hole with 2 screws holding it on. Mine has been open long as I've had it.

Thanks

[07SSSC]

Well alrighty then, guess no one knows anything about columns? lol

[rwolf9653]

Sorry but I do not know much about your column question, but I think the oval hole that you are reffering to would be for the clutch linkage.

[07SSSC]

Originally Posted by rwolf9653

Sorry but I do not know much about your column question, but I think the oval hole that you are reffering to would be for the clutch linkage.

duh, never thought of that, explains why none of the trucks we have are open, they're all autos, I shoulda thought of that. Kinda weird postioning but it makes since. Thanks. I feel kinda dumb now lol

[07SSSC]

bump

[07SSSC]

bump til I get replies

[07SSSC]

and again

[dan42]

Steering columns did have different colors - mine is silver poly in my '67. Not sure about the other years, though, as my '70 has a black column.

[07SSSC]

Originally Posted by dan42

Steering columns did have different colors - mine is silver poly in my '67. Not sure about the other years, though, as my '70 has a black column.

Thanks, I'm not so concerned about color differences between years but I never really thought about it, that only requires a rattle can to change anyways. If you have an interior pic of with the silver column I'd like to see it though.

[unclewatts]

Obviously there are three different kinds. Three on the tree, Automatic and Manual. Also there is tilt and nontilt. Tilt wasn't available until 1970 as an option. All of them will bolt in but there are some differences in how the steering shaft connects to the shaft that goes to the steering box.

[KEL]

ttt

[Conroe trucker]

I have always painted mine the body color.

From what I can tell the column tube seems to be the same for all years as long as it is not a tilt.

The shaft compression is different as they became a little more engineered.

There are several ways to shorten one listed on the fourm, but I just drill roughly a 3/8" hole about 1 1/2" up the tube for the tab to fit into.

This gives you a little more room behind the dash and allows for a deeper wheel dish.

[BLACK AND BLUE 67-72]

Answer to first question: Lengths, column size, wiring and key in column or no key in column, if you are talking about years other than 67-72.


Answer to second question: I have never tried to change it to a bulb or LED but I don't think it would be too hard to do, however if it is working good with the fiber optic cable why change? Unless you put a tilt in it then it would have a wire and a blub in it already.



Answer to your third question: Yes that is the difference the Hazard knob is different and the plug under the dash is flat instead of U shaped, GM has an adapter available for this, but I can not remember the # right off hand.

[07SSSC]

Thanks for the replies.

I completely tore the column apart Saturday and cleaned all the pieces, then painted it Sunday afternoon and last night. I did decide to go with the color of cab/interior which is almond. I used POR15 on everything that will be under the hood. (FYI, always wear gloves when working with that stuff....) and rattle canned the rest almond. I also ordered some replacement parts Sunday evening, switches, levers, steering wheel install kit, grommets, etc. I finally get to put a new gauge bezel in which is what has me most excited, the column in there now (75-76 Nova) is so much bigger in diameter that the bezel is all hacked up and not very pretty.

I never gave any thought to shortening the column Conroe. This column will be so much shorter then the one in there now that it'll take some getting used to but that may be an option later on though.

I was just wondering about the differences between the years of the 67-72 trucks, Black and Blue. Looks like some small stuff they changed to me. I don't know if the fiber optic cable worked or not, the truck I pulled the column from was a non runner. I may still play around with a led just for the heck of it. I ordered an original style t/s switch mainly due to the fact that the newer style hazard switch may look weird if I paint it almond. I did noticed the connectors were different however, and one of the trucks out back actually had the wiring adapter in it.

I've taken plenty of pics so I'll start a new thread once I get this column installed.

[chevy_mike]

On my last '68, I replaced the fiber optic with a red LED in the pointer housing. Ran really fine wires, routing them the same as the fiber optic went. Did this because I put a Dakota Digital gauge set in and it did not use the factory dash lights so the fiber optic was useless.

It worked well but was a little on the bright side. BTW, I did this about 10 years ago.

[screamin_c10]

Bessie's column is grey and matches the interior, I don't see any glaring differences between my '71 and '67 columns, at least on the exterior. These are pics from my recent column mod....

[westofb]

there are slight differences in the columns themselves. try puting a 72 auto shift lever in a 69....won't fit without grinding it down a tad. Look to vendors for these trucks, you will see different part numbers for the different years for the same parts, ie: auto shift levers for example. LMC has nice exploded views on there site and catologs, classic parts has better selection (and quality) and there website is easier to navigate, there are many other vendors for parts, these are two of the easiest to use, not necessarily the best.

[07SSSC]

Well the paint turned out pretty dang good considering it wasn't weather ideal for painting. It's not ideal weather to be outside assembling it either (45* + 38 mph winds = brrr) so I'll either take it to the shop I work at Saturday or take it all in the house and assemble it.

I like the way the painted column looks screamin C10, don't know if I'll shorten mine or not, have to install it and see how I like it first.

I went through plenty of websites looking at various pics of parts and pieces, westofb. I ended up ordering everything through Classic Parts and my order is crossing Kansas at this moment. Hopefully it'll be here Friday.

[bigdogboxers]

Mine is a tilt from a van and i painted it to match it was black..

[07SSSC]

Originally Posted by bigdogboxers

Mine is a tilt from a van and i painted it to match it was black..

I'm jealous, I searched high and low for a tilt column and the only one I found needed rebuilt and they still wanted $300 for it. I figured I didn't need one that badly.

[bigdogboxers]

I got mine out of a van at a wrecking yard for $125... then i bought a wireing adapter from lmc for $20...

[Tennessee Bowtie]

Big dog boxer,
What year van and where did u get the seats?

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by Tennessee Bowtie

Big dog boxer,
What year van and where did u get the seats?

It may be a while before you get an answer.... He hasn't been on the board since 7-10-2012. If you type the words "what year van tilt" into the GOOGLE search box at the top of this page, click on the circle in front of "67-72chevytrucks.com" and click on the GOOGLE button you will find lots of threads on the subject. Just make sure the thread you are looking at refers to your style of truck. (Hits will include all years)

LockDoc

[csfields]

I do know that a 67-68 column is one piece shaft and 69-72 has a two piece shaft. I don't think the 67-68 had a hazard switch. the 67-68 had the hard resin steering wheel and circular horn button and the 69-72 had the vinyl style wheel with little horn button.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by csfields

I do know that a 67-68 column is one piece shaft and 69-72 has a two piece shaft. I don't think the 67-68 had a hazard switch. the 67-68 had the hard resin steering wheel and circular horn button and the 69-72 had the vinyl style wheel with little horn button.

The '67-'68's have the hazard switch too.

LockDoc