base1957

My column is the tilt type and not the original. I am redoing the dash interior stuff and have read your article but I'm slow and need some clarification in my terminology as the vocabulary often causes problems.

My column is the tilt type. Traveling down the column towards the floor you first see two bolts inserted from underneath . They travel through a small coller and are bolted into two fixed nuts. Further down you see what looks like 4 bolts holding a bracket with in which is the column.
At the floor you see a plate with two bolts. One bolt on each side.

Do I undo the first two bolts, then the four bolts and then the two in the floor. Does that release the column to lower and how far will it lower.
thanks for the help...
I'm not sure how anyone could do this without the forum
and yes by the way I have ordered the aim for the car.
thanks again

Jim Shea

There were no tilt columns in 1968 Corvettes. The only column that was adjustable was a telescoping column.

So if you truly have a tilt column you will need to take some digital pictures of the installation because I have no idea how someone would have cobbled it into your car. So it is very difficult for me to tell you how to take it back out.

Now if you have a telescoping production type column. These two papers should provide all the information that you will need to remove the column from the car.
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...ev23ja2009.pdf
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...v-23ja2009.pdf

Jim

jeff79'

Yes, Loosen the 2 nuts at your knees, then undo the ones at the fire wall.You'll need to open the hood to complete the firewall ones. The column will drop down pretty low at that point.

base1957

Pic 1 The two bolt collar. You can only actually see one.




Pic 2 shows the 4 bolt bracket i was speaking of.
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u...vette68005.jpg


Pic 3 shows the bracket mounted to the dash.
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u...corvette68.jpg



Can , should I loosen the ones at the dash and the ones in the fire wall?

base1957

ttt

jeff79'

What year is your car ?......I don't know what the 4 bolt bracket is in picture 2, and picture 3 is what ?.....Mine is a '79, and the only bolts I removed to drop the steering wheel were the 2 in picture 1 and the 2 on the firewall...That's to drop it, not take it totally out. Is that what you want to do or just drop it ?

Jim Shea

You still have me stumped as to exactly what steering column is in your car. Here is a picture of the production 1968 steering column mounting.

I can see the 1968 production cast bracket (B) that is mounted to the plenum in your picture three. But is that the ignition key sticking out on the left side of the steering column in that same picture?

In picture one I can also see bracket (D) and what looks like a welded-on mounting bracket that would normally be a permanent part of a 1969or later Corvette column.

But I am still at a loss as to what vintage or version of steering column is in your car.
Jim

base1957

All i want to do is lower it at this time.
Jim
the column is a titl , telescope with the ignition key on the right side of the column. It is non functional as the one on the dash is used.
Also after you tell me more about the column I wonder if what you said never to do regarding loosening the two bolts only was previously done to mine. How would the steering react if what you said may happen to the beerings.
Tkanks for helping me out here

base1957

ttt

base1957

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u...vette68008.jpg


thanks again in advance

Jim Shea

There should be a welded-on toe plate on the steering column. There should be two bolts that pass through the plate (from the driver side). They may screw into two nuts that are part of plate (A) as shown in the 1968 Steering Column Mounting picture. Your latest picture doesn't show if plate (A) is on the dash panel or not.

You want those two bolt out if you are dropping the column by removing the two vertical bolts that hold the column up into the dash.

You latest picture seems to show that the lower bearing adapter has been dislodged from the lower end of the steering column jacket. This could be a real indication that someone (in the past) may have left the column "hanging" and overstressed the lower end of the column.

You might find that the lower bearing has a lot of chatter because the ***** were pressed into the bearing races by the high loads caused by that "hanging" of the column.

Jim

base1957

Thanks Jim
the welded plate is there. So in order to lower the column just remove those 2 bolts? How far will it drop?
Also , I am new to this and so have a vocabulary deficit. Help me locate that " lower adapter bearing you spoke of . Are you referring to the pic in the engine side .

Jim Shea

Why not just remove the two nuts and lock washers from the driver side of the flexible coupling out under the hood. Then just pull the column straight back into the passenger compartment.

carriljc

I would have never thought of that "J" bolt otherwise.

This is so easy I'm not sure why I avoided it for so long. It would be even easier if I didn't have the bulkhead insulated and RTVd.