KeithLoutzenhiser76

hi everyone, I just bought a 1976 corvette, it needs to be restored and I am redoing the brakes right now, however when I removed the brake booster there is a tab/bracket on the steering column that has a wire tie holding it in an up position, I can see there is some type of spring in the column shaft and don't want to disturb this not knowing what it is for. any ideas? my car has headers and it looks as if someone has cut out a bracket in that area don't know if they are connected or not

oledave60

That is the steering lock/ignition inter lock. There is usually a cable that attaches to it from the trans. With an auto it would be in park, manual reverse. Keeps from starting in gear.

KeithLoutzenhiser76

my car is a 4 speed, so should I just tie it back up and leave it alone or what? I would like restore it to original. thanks for the quick response

Alan 71

Hi Keith,
WELCOME!!!
First posts!!!!!
As Dave said what you're seeing is part of the ignition interlock.
The lever must be in the raised position in order to remove the key from the ignition switch.
A cable runs from the reverse lever on the transmission to that bracket in your picture.
Moving the shifter is what controls the cable and lever.
Here's a couple of photos.
It 'looks' like part of the bracket on the firewall has been cut off in order to make some clearance for the header tube.
Regards,
Alan

Here's the cable and it's connections. The lever is in it's upper position… transmission is in reverse.


The cable's end at the transmission reverse lever. There are 2 brackets that hold the cable in place. The reverse lever is in the upper right corner of the photo.

lvmyvt76

buy the AIM book to help restore your car!!!

mrvette

Yeh, I did the same thing, wired that lever up, when first got the car....it was a 4 speed '72.......today it's a automatic overdrive, and column changed to a later shark and that silly lever/tube not installed at all....

so no lever/interlocks at all, lern how drive......screw Nader......