Do you think that we're likely to see reproduction floor-shift steering column bowls now that 3D printing makes this very possible? One for tilt(GM 7805999) and one for non-tilt (GM 7804649), for converting original columns? The part numbers above show my bias, as they're for 1969-72 Skylarks, LeManses, and Cutlasses. Maybe Chevelles too?
Bam! https://www.musclecarcentral.com/1969-1977-Tilt-Tilt-Steering-Column-Lower-Bowl-p/ste-135.htm I ran across this a few weeks ago. Looks nice but its the longer, Chevelle style. I dont know how that would affect the angle of the gear shift indicator rod though.
Thank you Jason and 2dtrak! According to The Parts Place, this is GM 7805991 and not 7805999 (1969 BOP A-bodies) or 7809289 (1970-72 BOP A-bodies) . The Parts Place advertises this part as fitting our 1970-72 A-body Buicks, but I side with Jason and wonder if they've verified this? The Parts Place link: https://www.thepartsplaceinc.com/pr...eeve-housing-for-floor-shift-gm-7805991/97871 Update - both 7805999 ('69) and 7809289 ('70-72) have long been discontinued without a substitution given in the GM Parts books. If GM 7805991 was a viable substitution then I believe it would have been listed as so.
GM 7805991 fits various Buicks that some of us have, but again NOT our 1969-72 A bodies: http://www.gmpartswiki.com/getpage?pageid=231381 http://www.gmpartswiki.com/getpage?pageid=231370
I have one from The Parts Place. Looks like a nice piece,but have yet to try it out. I will also take pictures to compare lengths between Pontiac/Chevy and Oldsmobile/Buick.
It is an exact copy of the PontiacChevy piece,so it is the longer one. A machinist could cut it down and add the slot in the correct position. Here is the different between the Pontiac/Chevy,and the Oldsmobile/Buick
That looks like the 4-speed tilt column bowl, according to Dennis Wheeler's article here: http://www.buickperformanceclub.com/4spdColumnComparison.htm , where Dennis states that the 4-speed bowl is 1" longer than the auto.
Brian, have you had a chance to try this part? As I revisit the GM/Buick parts book with fresh eyes, it shows 7805991 as a column shift bowl, which clearly this reproduction is not. I just unsuccessfully swapped a non-tilt floor-shift bowl from a 1971 Gran Prix (if memory serves) onto a column shift '70 non-tilt column. It installs fine, but the gap between this Pontiac bowl and the Buick lock-cylinder housing is not even, and not flush. It's very, very close, but I've not been able to tweek it to fit perfectly.
I have not worked on any of my columns yet. That 71 GP lower bowl should mount correctly to that 70 column,if both are non-tilts. Something might be hung-up,and not letting one of the halves seat in fully,causing the gap.
Here are some better pictures of the piece that you would actually receive from The Parts Place. It will work fine for a 4-speed,but you would need to get creative to mount the needle linkage for an automatic.
I've messed around with the steering column in my 72, but have not been able to figure out how to get the old bowl off. Mine was a column shifted 3 speed manual and now it is floor shifted. How do you go about removing this part of the steering column?
Thank you Brian for your additional pictures and advice. I'm sure you're right in that something is hung up somewhere.
I have a steering column completed with the repop lower bowl. All in all a very nice part. It fits and functions as it should. I didn’t have to modify anything. You could use it as is for a 4-speed car,but for an automatic BUICK,you would need to shorten it or figure out where the drill a hole to mount the speedo selector linkage. I might get another one,then slice it to the correct length and machine the slot in it.
I did a complete teardown and rebuild of a 67 column following the service manual instructions. Took a bit of trial and error plus some special tools.
Thank you so much Brian for validating fitment for all of us!! I have one on its way to me and can hardly wait to install it. Working under the dash while standing on my head is tricky enough. A tilt column really helps getting into and out of this awkward position! Thank you again.