Hi all. I have a 71 tilt column on the way to replace my non tilt. Column shift. How does all this happen? I have looked at removing the column, and the only question I have is..does the complete column need to come out through the passenger compartment?.......I mean all the way down to the rag joint? Is it possible to separate the column and steering shaft from under the hood? The plate that bolts to the inside of the firewall looks like it will not make it out without removing the brake pedal.. Any words of wisdom? Thanks!
Yep....the plate at the bottom splits in half. so you remove all the bolts bolting it to the floor and the screw that tightens around the column. Then split it apart and remove it prior to removing the column. The foam gasket is going to get destroyed in the process so buy one on Ebay or wherever to replace the old one. I have a few plates in the basement I can take a picture of if it will help I usually remove the column and intermediate shaft as a whole unit. Its a PITA trying to separate the intermediate shaft from the column when its in the car. And a bigger pain to try and get the splines to line up exactly when your reinstalling it. You may have to take the left motor mount bolt out and lift the engine a little off the mount to gain some clearance for the intermediate shaft to clear. Good time to tale the cluster out and freshen it up...just sayin
Its a 350 c ar so he should not have any problems pulling it out. Simple job Brian you can take the colmun down to Fitz steering column in Lemay and they can do the keys up so it all matches your doors I have A steering wheel puller you can borrow too
No worries if the column doesn't have a lower plate yours will work too Not everything interchanges the ignition switch ( down on the top of the column) is different than a straight column I think most other stuff is the same. Your wiring will plug in too. The lower selector rods are the same If you have the tilt switch on it it will be a bolt in
Are you saying that the ignition switch might not interchange between tilt columns? I'm replacing a column shift tilt column with a floor shift tilt column. Shouldn't my original ignition switch interchange?
I found 2 different part numbers for thelower switch I ordered one specifically for a tilt. Just the info I had when I bought my tilt it has a different angle for the rod as I remember check georhge N's site I think thats where I got the info
I'm still waiting for my other Buddy John P to finish my column....Plus Duane still has my car....:spank:
Interesting read I have a column-shift tilt column in my car that I plan on replacing with a floor tilt column when I get one - looking to perform a complete factory console swap hopefully this summer if I can sort out how and where to mount the factory floor brackets and all the assorted transmission linkage stuff.... But I didn't know ignition switch units were different between tilt / non-tilt columns. Glad this thread came along.
Scott,,,,just to be clear, the actual ignition switch where the key goes is the same for both style columns.
That's usually were the confusion is, the thing the key goes into is the lock cylinder. Most people call it the ignition switch. The actual switch is bolted moe towards the base of the column on top. When you rotate the lock cylinder, it operates a rod that goes down the column to the switch.
No worries - I knew exactly what was being described - I've replaced a couple of those in the past on regular columns - it just never occurred to me there'd be a difference between columns.
i just did the foor shift conversion on my 71 , and just cut the shifter off .fill the hole with jb weld sand it smooth ,and paint it .way easier than swapping columns ,and MUCH cheaper!!!mine works just as good as a floor shift column .they operate the same way .
