Hello everyone, My 76 EW has a floor shifter and two seats installed, which I'm going to convert back to a bench seat and column shift, starting with the latter. Mainly because I doubt the floor shifter has been installed properly (as seems to be case with a lot of things in my Buick...), it doesn't seem to shift very precisely, especially in L2 and L1. And also the shift handle is in conflict with the ashtray in all positions but drive and the low gears, and I can't have that :grin: The column shift lever has been removed though, so I'm looking for a replacement. Does anyone know which levers would fit in my car? It's a non-tilt column. I probably need to modify the lever (that's why it doesn't have to be the exact lever for a '76 EW, just something that works) because I have some gauges in the dash right below the radio that might be obscured by a straight lever when in drive. But of course I need a lever first to test that. Any help is much appreciated!
Did you merely remove the shift lever from the original 'column shift style' or is yours a 'floor shift style' column? are you needing just a lever to re-install on the original column, or do you need an entire 'column shift style' steering column?
I bought it with the floor shifter installed. It still has the complete shift column installed, I suppose to keep the column locking mechanism and gear indicator working, the column shifts in unison with the floor shifter. All I need is a shift lever and it's hinge pin. I presume that if I have a column shift lever installed I can unhook the floor shifter cable, remove it's handle and be done with it. Until I replace the seats and center console with a bench-type setup of course. It's supposed to fit three people in the front, so that's what I want it to do again. It's one of the charms of a full-size American car for me. Plus then I can have my girlfriend next to me when driving
Bump! I've been searching a lot again and I can't seem to find if the levers themselves are interchangeable between GM cars... I probably also need a new spring? Well, I can make a spring if needed. Maybe anyone has pictures of a lever (especially the end that connects to the column) and the surrounding mechanism? I could probably take it from there and make my own, depending on how much of the rest of the mechanism is still on my car. Hope someone can help!
If you can post some pictures, would be a big help. I can get the lever, spring, pivot pin....just need pics to identify which column you have in the car now...since wagons never came with floor shift columns....thanks!
Hi Rob! Thanks for the offer, but I'm actually liking the position of the wheel as it is, so I don't need an adjustable column. Plus I have a lot of other stuff still on the 'to do' list, I don't think I'll have the time anytime soon to swap a complete column. This is the only picture I have right now of the column: It's the stock '76 fixed column as far as I know. It's just missing the lever. Is this enough information?
You need a shift lever from any 71-76 full size Buick LeSabre/Riv/Electra non-tilt....post a Parts Wanted ad here and you should find it.
Thanks George! Now I know what to look for. I'll first try to find a lever locally, but if that doesn't work out I'll post a Parts Wanted thread.
Nooo, I haven't disappeared! I'm just still working on finding a lever, in what little time I have to spend on my numerous hobbies and vehicles. Guess it's been a longer time than I thought since I've done any meaningful work on my Buick... :eek2:
I've got a complete straight column from a '73 Electra that was in good working order. I swapped it for tilt to help with leg room. I should have the lever and the pin along with anything else you could want for it (no hazard knob or steering wheel) Let me know everything you'd need and I'll get it all together and send you the pics.
Thanks for the heads up bammax! I'm contacting a guy over here in a few days (he's on holiday at the moment) who might have what I need. But if that doesn't work out I'll let you know. As far as I can tell I just need the lever, pin and spring.
Alright, went to see the guy who had a lever today, and it turns out there's something fishy about my column. The lever refused to be placed in what should be it's natural habitat. I compared what I could see through the hole where my lever should be with two columns he had and it did not add up. It looks something has dislodged, or maybe broken off, or was assembled wrong or something. Regardless, it's blocking the space where the lever should find it's indents. I'm thinking it's probably the reason the previous owner converted to a floor shifter. So I took two levers and, to be prudent, a column off his hands and will have a thorough look at my column as soon as I can.
Sounds like the pop-up spring is dislodged or the collar inside is broken. Never found the gear lever stops/detents metal panel to be loose or broken in any column I have rebuilt and that is over 250 of them. Take it apart and post some pics.
The picture still doesn't work. The columns I compared with and the one I got aren't Buick by the way, but Cadillac. The guy (who seemed quite knowlegable) assured me the columns (at least on the inside, like the shift mechanism) were all the same across the full-size GM cars of the '70s. I'm thinking now that might be incorrect?
