Van Tilt Column Questions - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**FirstOwner69** · 07-24-2014, 01:18 AM

I picked up a really nice van tilt today in the local junkyard. It was in a 1976 Chevy van chassis class C motorhome that also had cruise control.

- There is no neutral safety switch. It has slots in the column where one could be installed, but there are no screw holes suggesting there was ever one mounted nor raised tabs on the shaft to engage a switch. Any ideas what may have been done to light the backup lights and prevent starter engagement when in gear? Is there something else I need to get from the van/motorhome?

- Would that 1976 cruise setup work in our trucks without many, if any, mods? The engine was a SBC (most likely a 350). The trans was a TH400. 086,XXX miles.

Other than these questions, I know what needs to be done to use the column. However, I don't really plan to use it other than for parts, but I'd like to be able to if needed.

Thanks!

MARKDTN · 07-24-2014, 07:15 AM

I have seen motorhome TH400s with a combination neutral switch on the transmission. Could be it was like that.

**FirstOwner69** · 07-24-2014, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MARKDTN

I have seen motorhome TH400s with a combination neutral switch on the transmission. Could be it was like that.

Any idea of what that might look like and where exactly it would be located on the transmission? Is that what the manual transmission trucks use? I don't know much about how they are set up or if/how they'd use a normal NSS.

MARKDTN · 07-24-2014, 04:51 PM

Ahead of the kickdown there is a bracket and a switch.

**FirstOwner69** · 07-24-2014, 05:43 PM

I'll have to get out there and check that out. Thanks!

**special-K** · 07-24-2014, 06:48 PM

I'd think you could bolt that cruise control right in. '73+ trucks are a few inches longer forward of the cab,so things should be plenty long for routing

**FirstOwner69** · 07-24-2014, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by special-K

I'd think you could bolt that cruise control right in. '73+ trucks are a few inches longer forward of the cab,so things should be plenty long for routing

I was thinking it would probably work, too. I'm not sure I want to go to the trouble to get it out of a van chassis. That cruise/turn lever on the column does make it tempting though.

MARKDTN · 07-25-2014, 08:19 AM

'76 is going to be that split cable vacuum operated deal for CC. I don't know what you are running for power, but if you can get a 4000pulse/mile signal from somewhere, the later (early 90s up) cruise is much smoother operating.

07-24-2014, 01:18 AM	#1
FirstOwner69 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Wisconsin & Arizona Posts: 4,852	Van Tilt Column Questions I picked up a really nice van tilt today in the local junkyard. It was in a 1976 Chevy van chassis class C motorhome that also had cruise control. - There is no neutral safety switch. It has slots in the column where one could be installed, but there are no screw holes suggesting there was ever one mounted nor raised tabs on the shaft to engage a switch. Any ideas what may have been done to light the backup lights and prevent starter engagement when in gear? Is there something else I need to get from the van/motorhome? - Would that 1976 cruise setup work in our trucks without many, if any, mods? The engine was a SBC (most likely a 350). The trans was a TH400. 086,XXX miles. Other than these questions, I know what needs to be done to use the column. However, I don't really plan to use it other than for parts, but I'd like to be able to if needed. Thanks!

07-24-2014, 07:15 AM	#2
MARKDTN Registered User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 2,165	Re: Van Tilt Column Questions I have seen motorhome TH400s with a combination neutral switch on the transmission. Could be it was like that. __________________ '83 K20-TPI '73 C10 '79 C10-ex-diesel(SOLD) '07 Tahoe(Son driving) '14 Suburban-DD '71 C10-current project

07-24-2014, 04:51 PM	#4
MARKDTN Registered User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 2,165	Re: Van Tilt Column Questions Ahead of the kickdown there is a bracket and a switch. __________________ '83 K20-TPI '73 C10 '79 C10-ex-diesel(SOLD) '07 Tahoe(Son driving) '14 Suburban-DD '71 C10-current project

07-24-2014, 05:43 PM	#5
FirstOwner69 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Wisconsin & Arizona Posts: 4,852	Re: Van Tilt Column Questions I'll have to get out there and check that out. Thanks!

07-24-2014, 06:48 PM	#6
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: Van Tilt Column Questions I'd think you could bolt that cruise control right in. '73+ trucks are a few inches longer forward of the cab,so things should be plenty long for routing __________________ "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 ~

07-25-2014, 08:19 AM	#8
MARKDTN Registered User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 2,165	Re: Van Tilt Column Questions '76 is going to be that split cable vacuum operated deal for CC. I don't know what you are running for power, but if you can get a 4000pulse/mile signal from somewhere, the later (early 90s up) cruise is much smoother operating. __________________ '83 K20-TPI '73 C10 '79 C10-ex-diesel(SOLD) '07 Tahoe(Son driving) '14 Suburban-DD '71 C10-current project



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