Tilt column swap ideas

[Critter]

I am converting my 72 Blazer from the original 350/th350 over to a 6.0/nv4500 5 speed setup. I know, I know, swapping from an auto to a manual is a little backwards for most, but it's what I want and I plan to keep this Blazer forever. My question concerns my factory auto tilt column. I want this K5 to be very nice, bordering on a show vehicle that gets driven quite a bit. Do I convert this original column over to a standard style by sanding down the shifter "nub" and repainting? Do I search for a very hard to find original floor shift tilt column? Do I go find a van tilt to hack up and make it look like a floor shift tilt? I guess I could also get an after market column but I am somewhat partial to having an original one. I will have other projects down the road that this original tilt column would fit nicely in I'm sure. What do the masses think...

[Dieselwrencher]

If you can find a decent priced van tilt, that would be the way to go. Then you always have your oem tilt.

[SOON2BLAZE]

I'm doing the auto to manual tilt conversion using a van tilt right now myself. just do it... heres some help from Yukon Jack http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=212227

[Critter]

Looks like converting a van tilt is winning at the moment. I can find them pretty cheap in the salvage yards around here.

[Longhorn Man]

most of the van tilts have a smaller shifter that doesn't look stupid behind a smaller aftermarket steering wheel.

[raycow]

Sorry for being so dense, but how/why is the van tilt column better for an auto to manual conversion than the stock truck tilt?

Ray

[Critter]

From my point of view stock truck tilts of any kind are pretty expensive and hard to come by so I don't really want to hack one up. On the other hand, van tilts are about $40 and aren't hard to find. I would rather molest one of them than an original auto tilt to make the conversion. I would love to find an original manual tilt, but if the time comes I will convert a van tilt. After visualizing it, I could NEVER cut up my original. I don't have it in me to do that.

[KevsClassics]

Originally Posted by raycow

Sorry for being so dense, but how/why is the van tilt column better for an auto to manual conversion than the stock truck tilt?

Ray

A lot more money for truck. Van is the same thing for lot less and easier to come by.

[raycow]

Thanks. That sounds like a good reason to me.

Ray

[gkesseru]

I have a 68 with a B&M floor shifter, which
year/model Van tilt column would fit?

[rcrahn]

I voted for a new aftermarket tilt. Be safe and start with something fresh, it is far better than using a 30-40 year old worn out column.

[marks1972]

Originally Posted by KevsClassics

A lot more money for truck. Van is the same thing for lot less and easier to come by.

sorry i am dense also. besides the price what is the difrence between the van and truck column. and if they are the same thing then why the price difrence. it seems like everybody gets excited about putting a van column in there trucks.

[Dieselwrencher]

The biggest difference is the van column is a little longer so you have to modify your original steering shaft to install a van tilt in a truck. I believe you also need an adaptor for the wiring because some of them are different on the van columns as well. But basically van tilts cost half as much as a used non rebuilt truck tilt.

[Critter]

Originally Posted by rcrahn

I voted for a new aftermarket tilt. Be safe and start with something fresh, it is far better than using a 30-40 year old worn out column.

I agree and have considered an aftermarket column, but so far all the ones I have seen are a little too squared off on the edges, I would love to find an aftermarket one that looked more similar to the original column. By the way if I do go with an original (or van for that matter) I will be rebuilding it.

Originally Posted by marks1972

sorry i am dense also. besides the price what is the difrence between the van and truck column. and if they are the same thing then why the price difrence. it seems like everybody gets excited about putting a van column in there trucks.

I think the excitement comes from the thrill of getting something that is almost identical to a hard to find expensive part, but you pay only a fraction of the price.

[raycow]

Originally Posted by Critter

I think the excitement comes from the thrill of getting something that is almost identical to a hard to find expensive part, but you pay only a fraction of the price.

Yes, sort of like buying a Nova part instead of one for a Camaro (assuming the seller doesn't know they are the same).

Ray

[Longhorn Man]

what exactly "wears out" in a van column? I've had about 30 or so pass through my hands, plus the 100 P/30 trucks we rebuilt at work a few years ago with a slighly newer van tilt column... other than turn signal switches and the little spring for the shift lever, nothing ever needed replaced. (abused parts not in this equation)
I know the shifter pin hole can get 'wallered' out, and the 4 bolts that hold the upper column to the lower column can come loose, which is actually a fairly quick fix.
I guess I just can't fathom spending big bucks on a new column when a low buck one + a can of quality paint will do the job. Then you have another 250 bucks or so to buy more important things. (personally I refuse to spend more than $25 on van columns, and I can normally get plenty of them) On top of that, the chrome (or alluminum) finish causes nasty reflections in the windshield right in front of your face.

[raycow]

What usually wears out is the shaft bearings. The shift mechanism can get loose too, but that's usually more of a problem on manuals than automatics. This isn't to say that EVERY old column will need work. I have found lots of 40-50 y/o columns that were perfectly usable as-is.

Ray

[Longhorn Man]

I've never seen bearings bad on a tilt. Just about every tilt equipped vehicle would have power steering, reducing the amount of force needed.
On a non tilt truck column, I could see that. They were a crap design from the get go.
Plus, something I forgot to say in the last post, if the first van unit you find is bad, pass on it. There's a million more waiting for you to buy.

[Dieselwrencher]

I've seen more bearing failures in the 73 up tilts than the 67-72 era styles.

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

(personally I refuse to spend more than $25 on van columns, and I can normally get plenty of them)

Cough, cough, do you have any or know of any cheap right now? I could use 2?

[jojo]

I voted for the aftermarket. I got me an aftermarket and I'm happy with it, because it was just easy, no rebuilding no fuss. I do sometimes wish it had cost less but I think I did okay at $300.00

Longhorn Man is right about the stupid reflection thing from the shiny finishes. And it is right in my face, mostly at night. Good thing mine's gonna be painted eventually.

[tacson]

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[red71cheyenne]

I did the same, floor shift tilt in the Blazer. I got mine from Kevin at Kevsclassics. Its a converted, refurbished van tilt that works great. Kevin is a board vendor and does great work.

[mcbassin]

Where do you guys get the van tilts for $25-$40?? Pick and pull salvage? What year model donor vehicles do I need to look for? thanks

[ls1nova71]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Where do you guys get the van tilts for $25-$40?? Pick and pull salvage? What year model donor vehicles do I need to look for? thanks

Easy actually, but you'll need a Delorean and a flux capacitor.......

Seriously though, you can find them in pick a part yards, but they are not nearly as common as they once were, and a tilt at those yards around here are about $50. The vans you want to look for are 1981 and older, Chevy and GMC of course.