Tilt Column Rebuild and Repaint??

[Ziptar]

The yard picked up the 81 Stepside I found in the woods this week. I went down today and got a bunch of parts off it. Not only was the Coulmn Tilt but also Cruise so I got the Cruise system too.

Anyway the truck sat fot a while with the windows open so the Chrome on the levers and black paint on the column is weathered.

I figured I'd clean it up and sorta rebuild it before I install it in the 79 (No Tilt, No Cruise). I don't think I need to tear it all the way down, it feels pretty tight but I would like to freshen it up.

Anyone point me to a webpage covering rebuilding a tilt column and recommend me a black paint for repainting it?

It'd be nice if the Chrome and paint were in good shape but, for the price FREE! (Well, I did get a wasp bite....) I don't mind.

[1972C10]

Id use some kind of single stage automotive paint urethane if possible Dupont Nason has some good lines at good prices

I got the entire alum colum kit + Shifter from a seller on ebay awhole lot cheaper than they are advetised in the magazines My chrome was dingy also .

[1972C10]

Not Pictured is the hazard knob and the turn signal for the older style colums. I didnt have to use it in my application so im going to install it in my 72

[cckutchma]

That looks awesome. I wonder if they have those kits for my 84 C20 with manual and how hard is it to install the cruise control?

[Ziptar]

Originally Posted by cckutchma

how hard is it to install the cruise control?

I don't know yet, shouldn't be all that hard it came out easy enough but, I am swapping a gas cruise system onto a diesel. It uses Vacuum to control it so it shouldn't be a problem (diesels have a vacuum pump where the HEI distributor goes on gas engines).

I grabed the entire cruise system, all the vaccum lines and the wiring from where it plugs into the fuse panel, the brake switch, and the vacuum switch on the brake pedal (which I think is really for the lockup as the wires from it didn't tie back into the cruise system) so I might not need that. Only two items I didn't get were the vacuum actuator for the throttle (Missing) and the speedo cable from the trans to the cruise servo (nut holding the bracket too rusted). the 85 I am stripping has cruise also, I thought it had that stuff on it but, the 85's cruise and column is totaly different so, looks Like I am going back to get the other cable. :-(

It shouldn't be that hard to install, it's a modular system that looks like it was designed to be installed after the fact as the truck moved down the assembly line. It pretty much came out all in one piece as a unit other than disconecting the switches to get the wires through the firewall. I didn't even have to cut any wires, they all unplugged. All I should have to do is bolt it in, hookup the speedo cable, vacuum and wires and be done (crossing fingers) I just hope the Servo is still good, it's pretty rusty on the bottom.

[1972C10]

I added the cruise to mine..

I got the entire setup from a 92 camaro Including brake switch. You should have a clutch vaccume relase for a manual

I added the vss from the same car wich is the same p/n as the ones used for these trucks

Its an optical eye of some sort that mounts behind the speedomter .

If you get everything it will even plug into the fuse box

My install is nice I rather prefer the camaro setup with the cruise servo mounted on the fender rather than the way these trucks came from the factor with the servo on the intake