what steering columns are direct fit? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

crazychevyc10 · 11-27-2015, 05:04 PM

hey guys - I have a 68' and wanted to know what year steering columns are direct fit?

thanks!

68Gold/white · 11-27-2015, 05:26 PM

I don't have all the answers, but the 67-72 pickups interchange. Chevrolet/GMC full size vans that have the ignition switch in the dash will also interchange.
The vans had the ign switch in the dash for many years after 1972.
I don't know what year the vans started using the ign switch in the column.

These are the only "for sure" direct fit columns I know of....

BCOWANWHEELS · 11-27-2015, 08:09 PM

isn't a van column longer

hugger6933 · 11-27-2015, 09:38 PM

The only direct fit is the truck tilt but a van tilt up to 82 or a motor home tilt up to 85 will work. thew motor home tilt looks closer to the truck tilt in my opinion but look at the FAQ section for our models as there is a ton and a half of write ups on how to make a van tilt work in our trucks.
On a side note I took a van tilt that had a wallowed out shifter pin hole and worked on it by grinding off the humps filling the holes that left and fixed up a column that looks like a factory tilt for floor shifter. It looks real slick. Jim

**special-K** · 11-28-2015, 10:03 AM

67/68s are different from 69-72. In '69 they went to collapsible, so you need everything from the steering box-up. Van columns are longer, but have enough "collapse" to them that you can shrink to fit. GM p-chassis vehicles (StepVan/motor home) also work. You want ones with no ignition in the column

EARNHARDT#3 · 11-28-2015, 10:14 AM

My '67 is collapsible as well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by special-K

67/68s are different from 69-72. In '69 they went to collapsible, so you need everything from the steering box-up. Van columns are longer, but have enough "collapse" to them that you can shrink to fit. GM p-chassis vehicles (StepVan/motor home) also work. You want ones with no ignition in the column

57larry · 01-03-2016, 09:43 PM

how do tell a 67-68 steering shaft from a 69-72? pics from a collapsible & non-collapsible please. thanks, Larry

Possmguts · 01-03-2016, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EARNHARDT#3

My '67 is collapsible as well.

Collapsible? Whats that all about?

Aus69c20 · 01-04-2016, 07:14 AM

a collapsible column will collapse in a front end collision. Non collapsible column will spear the shaft and steering wheel into you if the collision is serious enough.

At least that is my understanding.

30 a truck · 01-04-2016, 08:19 AM

Collapsible has 2 plastic "pins" holding the double d in place. Upon impact, they shear allowing the shaft to slide inside itself.

FirstOwner69 · 01-04-2016, 01:03 PM

To clarify the information in the above posts, the steering column itself is not collapsible. The intermediate shaft is collapsible. The thread linked below provides more info. Also, as noted above, this was a safety feature to reduce the risk of the column spearing the driver in a frontend collision, and the intermediate shafts in the 67s and 68s were one piece.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=309895

crakarjax · 06-06-2018, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FirstOwner69

To clarify the information in the above posts, the steering column itself is not collapsible. The intermediate shaft is collapsible. The thread linked below provides more info. Also, as noted above, this was a safety feature to reduce the risk of the column spearing the driver in a frontend collision, and the intermediate shafts in the 67s and 68s were one piece.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=309895

My 68 came with a collapsible shaft as well; both 1 piece and 2 piece shafts are collapsible.

Brent1990 · 04-16-2025, 09:13 PM

Not trying to take over this thread but does anybody have a picture of a 68 GMC emissions sticker

crazyjeenyus · 04-17-2025, 02:43 PM

'81 GMC van tilt column fits nicely in my '67 (it does have the ignition on the column).

**70STOVEBOLT** · 04-18-2025, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brent1990

Not trying to take over this thread but does anybody have a picture of a 68 GMC emissions sticker

You would be better off starting a new thread.

**dagnabbitt** · 04-18-2025, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazyjeenyus

'81 GMC van tilt column fits nicely in my '67 (it does have the ignition on the column).

That's interesting! Did you do any modification at all, or did it bolt in?

crazyjeenyus · 04-21-2025, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dagnabbitt

That's interesting! Did you do any modification at all, or did it bolt in?

Bolted right in.

The steering wheel sits a little closer to my chest than the original setup did, but I'm not a big guy so it works better for me.

11-27-2015, 05:04 PM	#1
crazychevyc10 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 145	what steering columns are direct fit? hey guys - I have a 68' and wanted to know what year steering columns are direct fit? thanks!

11-27-2015, 05:26 PM	#2
68Gold/white Registered User Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Ark City, Kansas Posts: 3,551	Re: what steering columns are direct fit? I don't have all the answers, but the 67-72 pickups interchange. Chevrolet/GMC full size vans that have the ignition switch in the dash will also interchange. The vans had the ign switch in the dash for many years after 1972. I don't know what year the vans started using the ign switch in the column. These are the only "for sure" direct fit columns I know of....

11-27-2015, 09:38 PM	#4
hugger6933 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Marianna Arkansas Posts: 7,286	Re: what steering columns are direct fit? The only direct fit is the truck tilt but a van tilt up to 82 or a motor home tilt up to 85 will work. thew motor home tilt looks closer to the truck tilt in my opinion but look at the FAQ section for our models as there is a ton and a half of write ups on how to make a van tilt work in our trucks. On a side note I took a van tilt that had a wallowed out shifter pin hole and worked on it by grinding off the humps filling the holes that left and fixed up a column that looks like a factory tilt for floor shifter. It looks real slick. Jim

11-28-2015, 10:03 AM	#5
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,859	Re: what steering columns are direct fit? 67/68s are different from 69-72. In '69 they went to collapsible, so you need everything from the steering box-up. Van columns are longer, but have enough "collapse" to them that you can shrink to fit. GM p-chassis vehicles (StepVan/motor home) also work. You want ones with no ignition in the column __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

01-03-2016, 09:43 PM	#7
57larry Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 1,177	Re: what steering columns are direct fit? how do tell a 67-68 steering shaft from a 69-72? pics from a collapsible & non-collapsible please. thanks, Larry

11-27-2015, 08:09 PM	#3
BCOWANWHEELS Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: KINGSPORT,TN. Posts: 3,035	Re: what steering columns are direct fit? isn't a van column longer __________________ I BELIEVE IN JOHN 3:16

01-04-2016, 07:14 AM	#9
Aus69c20 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 231	Re: what steering columns are direct fit? a collapsible column will collapse in a front end collision. Non collapsible column will spear the shaft and steering wheel into you if the collision is serious enough. At least that is my understanding. __________________ John 69 c20, 396, th400, dana60, ps, ac

01-04-2016, 08:19 AM	#10
30 a truck Registered User Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Cowpens S.C. Posts: 138	Re: what steering columns are direct fit? Collapsible has 2 plastic "pins" holding the double d in place. Upon impact, they shear allowing the shaft to slide inside itself.

01-04-2016, 01:03 PM	#11
FirstOwner69 Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Wisconsin & Arizona Posts: 4,855	Re: what steering columns are direct fit? To clarify the information in the above posts, the steering column itself is not collapsible. The intermediate shaft is collapsible. The thread linked below provides more info. Also, as noted above, this was a safety feature to reduce the risk of the column spearing the driver in a frontend collision, and the intermediate shafts in the 67s and 68s were one piece. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=309895

04-16-2025, 09:13 PM	#13
Brent1990 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2025 Location: Sacramento ca Posts: 1	Re: what steering columns are direct fit? Not trying to take over this thread but does anybody have a picture of a 68 GMC emissions sticker

04-17-2025, 02:43 PM	#14
crazyjeenyus Registered User Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Lethbridge Alberta, Canada Posts: 183	Re: what steering columns are direct fit? '81 GMC van tilt column fits nicely in my '67 (it does have the ignition on the column). Attached Images __________________ '67 c10 '65 c10



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