tilt steering column swap HELP!

[nheller76]

Ok so i have a 78 Scotty and i wanted to put in a tilt steering column. so i got one, rebuilt it, and after i pull my stock non tilt steering column there are some problems! so my non tilt has what looks like a splined end to it that fits into the shaft that goes to my steering gear box. The new tilt column does not? it also looks like i am missing a bearing and assembly on the end of the new column, can anyone give me some info on what to do? The pics go non tilt, tilt, input shaft. Thanks guys

[nheller76]

also forgot to mention, truck is a78 and steering column out of a 79

[85gmcguy]

Different years. The "double D" (second in your pictures) is what my '85 has. You probably need a different input shaft to make it work. Some folks don't care for them, but a Jeep Grand Cherokee one (can't remember which years)can be used and it eliminates the rag joint. Check Ebay.

[nheller76]

I was worried about that, i need the bearing, spring and keeper at the end of the steering column. what are they called?

[old Rusty C10]

the shaft is called an input shaft the thing on the steering box is called a rag joint those are readily available at a good auto parts store.. LMC sells input shafts however they are about $300 look in scrap yards they are plentiful enough you need one pre 73-78

[nheller76]

Thank you, i was hoping that i was using the right terminology for that. but what i needed to know is what this stuff is called. It fits into the end of the steering column. it seems to be the bearing for the end of the shaft in the column but the one on my non tilt will not fit on my tilt. any help?

[old Rusty C10]

tomorrow I have a pretty busy day but I will try to remember to take some pics of the tilt column I have laying over here, as I cannot place where these items are on the column ( getting old and senile) and im sorry to say that I cannot part my column or sell it to you as its going into my 79 ( im also getting fat and need to fit in my truck)

[bnoon]

I went through the differences on columns a few months back too. I ended up grabbing the input shaft from the same truck my column came from at the salvage yard only a week after throwing my perfectly good '76 column from my other truck to the scrap recycler because nobody made an offer on it. Anyways... the connector at the steering box was different too!!! I ended up rebuilding the rag joint with the end I needed for my '74 steering box and the upper piece to fit the '79 (or so) column end. Worked out fine.

I'm no help on the bearing pieces though. Good luck!

[nheller76]

o man! i hope i dont have to go through that! if thats the case i may as well do the Jeep shaft!

[nheller76]

I think that they keep the outer tube of the column (also the shifter) from interfering with the actual shaft that turns the gear box. It alows the outer tube to rotate into gear and the bearing alows the shaft to rotate when in gear. I still have no idea what they are called.

[motornut]

i have non tilts in my 78-79.
I plan to swap my 88 tilt into the 78 at some point...
79 appears to be the change year.
I got a replacement rag joint and installed the wheel is now upside down,
watch the keyway on the lower spline.
heres a blow up pic of the steering......tilt but manual i think

[jetmech85]

I rebuilt my '86 tilt column 4 years ago. The white plastic piece at the lower end is called a lower bearing retainer. Mine was cracked so I replaced it. I sourced it from either GM or Classic Truck, Classic Industries also has it. Seems like it was ten bucks. As far as the spring and other small parts I used the existing ones. As you can see from motornut's post there are a ton of parts.

[nheller76]

well i figure i would put an update on what happened. so i went to a junk yard and pulled one out of an 83 suburban, and then figured i would sand it down and paint it chrome. I also took a grinder to the end of the new column and took off a bit of metal to allow me to put the lower bearing retainer then put it in the truck! it works great now, thank you all for your help.

[85gmcguy]

Looks great!