steering column mounting question

[victory62]

Ive got a 1962 k10 and its got a early 90s column with it but its not mounted up. Ive got no brackets or anything for it to hook it up right under the dash and thru the firewall i was wondering what have you guys done for mounting steering columns when you dont have the original mounts.

[victory62]

bump

[slepysal]

Good qestion ! Anyone have any tips ? I forgot I had a van tilt column and could use some ideas too

[64shortbox]

Here's the way I did my 73 Chevy Van tilt installation on my 64 C-10. It was the cheapest (I'm very CHEAP!) and easiest way I could think of (I'm very LAZY too!)
The factory toe plate & column clamp at the firewall can be reused without any modifications at all. Since it's basicly nothing more than a bracket with a pinch clamp (Hose Clamp) so you can slide your new column up or down as far as you want it won't have any effect on how it mounts.
For the column to dash mount I STOLE my idea from the way that GM did it on the 67 C-10's. I drilled a 3/8" hole in the middle of the steering column saddle on the dash. I dropped a 3/8" x 1/2" bolt through the hole & used a 3/8" jamb nut to lock the bolt down. The jamb nut is 3/16" thick. I cut a piece of 1/4" rubber to fit and punched a 5/8" hole in the rubber to clear the jamb nut. I figured where I wanted my column to be and drilled a 3/8" hole dead center of the column to match my bolt sticking down. Push the column up into place, bolt up the lower column support & E brake assembly and you're done. No need to drill the underside of the column to mount it to the lower column support. The column support wedges the column tight to the dash. The rubber pad spaces the column away from the jamb nut and prevents squeaking. For reference a 67 C-10 uses a centering pin & a "U" Clamp to hold the column in place. The single grey wire on the tilt column is for the shift indicator light bulb. Add a female spade connector to it and plug it into the male spade for the instrument/panel lights (second fuse down from the top) on your fuse block & you're done. Simple cheap & fast. Oh you now can run a hot wire from your fuse block to a 4 way flaser plug (I cut mine from a 73 Nova) the other wire pin "L" on the new column connector and you will have 4 way flashers.

[CdM]

I'd like to use a early 90's tilt as well. Just might have to figure it out and post it up

[64shortbox]

I received a PM asking about moving the Neutral Safety Switch on a van tilt further down the steering column. Here's a great link Solver posted on installing a van tilt in a 67 - 72 C-10. The measurements for moving & mounting the Neutral Safety Switch for a 67 - 72 are also spot on for a 60 - 66.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=147927

This is an excellent link with fantastic documentation & photos BUT I'm lazy and found an easier way. Lay everything out exactly as Solver posted in his link But mark your width lines at 7/16" rather than the 5/8" deminsions he gives, now grab a 7/16" drill bit and drill 2 holes at 1-1/16" off your center line just as Solver posted. Make sure you only drill through the outer column tube. Now place your gear selector in the neutral position. On your marked center line on your column drop down 1/8" from center of your 2 previous drilled holes and drill your 3rd 7/16" hole but drill through both the column tube and the shift tube. Now using a hacksaw, Dremel, or cutting wheel cut out your lines between your outer 7/16" holes. Take a small flat file and slightly bevel your center 7/16" hole. Push your Neutral Safety switch in place - I used a hose clamp to hold my Neutral switch in position temporarily to check fit & movement. Now move your shift lever from Neutral to Park to Low to make sure everything works OK without hanging up or binding. When you're satisfied that everything works smoothly remove the hose clamp and drill your two 9/64" holes to mount your Neutral Safety Switch - actually you could even leave the hose clamp in place but I drilled mine just as the factory did. Here's my pictures. I already modified my column and had it installed before I thought about taking pictures so I used some scrap tubing from my work. The yellow you see is just a piece of paper I stuffed in my tubing so it would show up better in my photos.

[victory62]

I dont have the toe plate and column clamp at the firewall tho im missing all the mounting stuff for the steering wheel so i need ideas for mounting at firewall and underdash.

[victory62]

Anymore ideas?

[64shortbox]

Sure, here's a bunch of ideas for the firewall or toe plate mount. On the dash mount part I'm afraid you will have to check on the wrecking yards, the "For Sale" parts ads on this site or eBay.

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Univer...ate,51946.html

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Garage...-ID,61527.html

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/search...first_answer=1

[m455sx]

i like the Oldsmobile 442 steering wheel.

[64shortbox]

m455sx,
Thanks, I also Love the Oldsmobiles. I had a 72 Cutlass Supreme and a 71 Cutlass Supreme. Both had Rally Packs, buckets, Rally Sport Wheels, the 72 was a 4 SPD, 71 was a Hurst Dual Gate. I picked up every Sport Wheel I could find in the day when I could pick them up for $15.oo each at Pick in Pull but that was in the early to mid 80's. Oh, I also had a 74 Toronado I of course had to add a Sport Wheel to it too.

[m455sx]

Very cool!!!

[victory62]

Thanks alot i appreciate the help! I will have to look around a bit for the dash mount ive contacted a few wrecking yards but ive struck out every time

[64shortbox]

Every once in a while the 60-66 trucks show up at the self serve wrecking yards here in the California valley, it's hit & miss but I'll keep an eye out for one if you like.

[victory62]

Yeah that would be awesome!

[64shortbox]

victory62, check this out - there's one for sale here on the board, it's the 9th picture down in his post.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=521177

[victory62]

Just sent him a PM!

[ChevyCruizer]

I know this is an old thread, but...

Anybody know where to get the parts to rebuild a "van" tilt? I can find bearings, gaskets, and turn signal stuff easily. But I have side to side slop in my wheel and I just replaced the gear box. I now know that the slop is in the column and the only thing I can think of is the sphere centering thing.

Thanks, John

[ChevyCruizer]

I took apart my column last night and as I guessed above my sphere centering plastic thing was in several pieces. Off to look for one of those.

[b.sharp]

you should still be able to get them from your GM dealer. I bought a complete tilt repair kit for a 70 camaro last summer. See your local GM dealer.

[spudder]

What parts do you need? If you can provide a picture, I may be able to help you. I have a good supply of tilt column parts for the early non-key columns.
I have been modifying the van tilt columns for many different vehicles for many years.

[ChevyCruizer]

On the GM parts diagram that I have seen posted here it is called the centering sphere. It is the plastic knuckle that attaches the upper and lower steering shaft. The picture below if what I have left.

Originally Posted by spudder

What parts do you need? If you can provide a picture, I may be able to help you. I have a good supply of tilt column parts for the early non-key columns.
I have been modifying the van tilt columns for many different vehicles for many years.