Tilt Column Removal

[slotard]

I'd like to swap a tilt column into my truck (which has a fixed column, and I'm having trouble with the ignition linkage).

I'm planning on going to Pick N Pull tomorrow to hopefully grab a tilt column. The truck is column shift TH350.

How do I pull the tilt column?

[tinydb84]

Hey from San Jose.

Completely remove the steering shaft bolt and I the two bolts on the firewall side. There are two bolts under the dash and a wiring harness. I think that's it...

[slotard]

Where is the steering shaft bolt?

Once I get the dashboard stuff off, are there only 2 bolts from that side?

Is there anything tricky in removing the shift linkage?

Any special tools I need to bring with me?

[1774btcrew]

As far as the linkage goes it is held in with a clip. This can be removed with a flathead screwdriver or a small pick with a 90 degree bend. This is what I normally use. The hardest 2 bolts are the 2 that clamp the column to the firewall on the engine side. They are held in with lock nuts and can be a bear to get off. Especially if the column has never been removed. Many times there is rubberized undercoating on these 2. Bring something to scrape it off as most times you can't get a socket over the nuts until you do so. There is also the 15mm bolt that holds the steering column to the intermediate shaft. undo the nut and completely remove the bolt. These are both on the engine side of the firewall. Do these BEFORE you do the bolts inside the truck. Once inside the truck, pull the insulation from around the plate at the bottom of the steering column. There are 5 10mm screws that fasten the plate to the firewall. Remove these next. The with a Phillips screwdriver remove the plate that mounts below the instrument bezel under the column. There are 2 nuts that hold the column tight under the dash. Remove these. This will drop the column low enough to get to the wiring for the ignition switch. Remove the 2 plugs. Black on first. Once this is done, give the column a swift yank. This should dislodge it from the intermediate shaft. Be careful doing this so you don't bend the arm for the shift linkage as sometimes it will catch on the firewall on the way out. That should be all you need to know.

[slotard]

I have a new shift linkage kit if I screw it up (came with the truck when I bought it).

I'm in California so undercoating is less likely.

If I get everything down to the steering box (other than the box itself), year doesn't matter right? But I need... 81?+ if I want to use an XJ shaft to tighten stuff up?

[old Rusty C10]

you need one I believe 73-83 in 1984 the wiper turn signal thing is different.

[slotard]

So in order to remove it, a decent set of metric and SAE sockets (6 and 12 point) plus a screwdriver will do everything?

[KrazyRay]

Don't forget the shift indicator cable that goes to the cluster. There is a tab that needs to be removed or undue it at the cluster. Bring pliers/vise grips and a deep 15mm helps. 90% of the California columns have the rubberized coating.

[1774btcrew]

Undercoating is VERY likely as all of them I have seen that have never been removed that I have pulled have it. It isn't a regional thing. It is factory done. Ray, good call on the shift indicator. I thought I had it covered so well! 78-83 should be correct if you want to use the xj shaft. Pretty easy to tell just by looking where the intermediate shaft mounts. Double D columns(the one you need) have a bolt the goes through the center of the shaft. The splined columns use a clamping bolt instead.

[slotard]

I found one without undercoating. '74 C20 with a camper shell, didn't have camper special badges though. The bench was in good enough shape I was considering buying it too. The PRND21 was already broken on it. I figure it'll be easier to not have to mess around with the intermediate shaft.

Of course I got a flat on my Subaru, which showed up when I was at Pick N Pull.

[Wellgeo03]

I don't mean to hijack, but has any of you ever seen a tilt column in a manual trans equipped truck? I have yet to see one, but would love one!

Good luck with the column swap!

[Rubble]

Originally Posted by Wellgeo03

I don't mean to hijack, but has any of you ever seen a tilt column in a manual trans equipped truck? I have yet to see one, but would love one!

Good luck with the column swap!

I've got one in the 80 C20 & also in the 82 K25. Pretty sure they were ordered that way as not many other options in both trucks.

[slotard]

I'm going to have to line up the steering wheel in relation to the wheels. Is there any reason to mark where it is vs the shaft before I pull it? Do I need to do anything special to get the turn signals to cancel?

[Wellgeo03]

There is a flat spot on the input shaft on the steering gear, if that's were you are taking the shaft off, but it will turn a spline or two either way on the flat side. I have had numerous shafts off, and sometimes it takes a couple tries to get the steering wheel lined up perfect with the wheels.

[slotard]

I got it back on. I pulled the column and the shaft that goes down to the rag joint, so I now have mixed and matched rag joint parts. How do I get the new steering wheel straight so that auto cancel works?