1972 Steering Column
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 161
Likes: 1
From: Maple Shade NJ
1972 Steering Column
Hello gang,
As most of you know, I am restoring a 72 coupe.
I am up to the steering column. It's out of the car , on the work bench. It is a straight column, no tilt, no tele. Just a turn signal. The wheel is off, the rag joint is off. (both are easy enough). I might add, I could send it out but I would like to tackle it myself. I have been looking for a diagram of the parts in order, but can't find one.
Does anyone have one thay can send me? Also the main bolt of'course spins the shaft. What's the best way to unbolt that? I would like to completely dis assamble it, restore each part and re assemble and repaint it. I'm just asking for anyones advice that may have done this job before. Any pit falls I may run into. Any short cuts, any sequence I might need to follow.
Thank you in advance
Elkhartgreen72 (Dave)
As most of you know, I am restoring a 72 coupe.
I am up to the steering column. It's out of the car , on the work bench. It is a straight column, no tilt, no tele. Just a turn signal. The wheel is off, the rag joint is off. (both are easy enough). I might add, I could send it out but I would like to tackle it myself. I have been looking for a diagram of the parts in order, but can't find one. Does anyone have one thay can send me? Also the main bolt of'course spins the shaft. What's the best way to unbolt that? I would like to completely dis assamble it, restore each part and re assemble and repaint it. I'm just asking for anyones advice that may have done this job before. Any pit falls I may run into. Any short cuts, any sequence I might need to follow.Thank you in advance
Elkhartgreen72 (Dave)
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 954
Likes: 40
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,993
Likes: 9
From: Gig Harbor WA
Elk,
I'm in the same boat as you, but I am switching to a TT...I read Jims papers, very helpful, but I thought the diagrams left a bit to be desired. Take a look at Doc Rebuild's diagrams in the catalog. They are about the clearest I can find..Hope this helps..
Doc's index, look under S...
http://www.docrebuild.com/dr-r-web/indexx.html
Standard column..
http://www.docrebuild.com/dr-r-web/ST-COL3.PDF
I'm in the same boat as you, but I am switching to a TT...I read Jims papers, very helpful, but I thought the diagrams left a bit to be desired. Take a look at Doc Rebuild's diagrams in the catalog. They are about the clearest I can find..Hope this helps..
Doc's index, look under S...
http://www.docrebuild.com/dr-r-web/indexx.html
Standard column..
http://www.docrebuild.com/dr-r-web/ST-COL3.PDF
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,274
Likes: 4,366
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi MS72,
Did you know that the good doctor does all the drawings in the catalogue himself?
I think they're amazing. For many things his drawing is clearer than a really good photo would be.
Now that he's sorta retired you don't even get yelled at so much when you call.
Regards,
Alan
Did you know that the good doctor does all the drawings in the catalogue himself?
I think they're amazing. For many things his drawing is clearer than a really good photo would be.
Now that he's sorta retired you don't even get yelled at so much when you call.
Regards,
Alan
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,993
Likes: 9
From: Gig Harbor WA
Hi MS72,
Did you know that the good doctor does all the drawings in the catalogue himself?
I think they're amazing. For many things his drawing is clearer than a really good photo would be.
Now that he's sorta retired you don't even get yelled at so much when you call.
Regards,
Alan
Did you know that the good doctor does all the drawings in the catalogue himself?
I think they're amazing. For many things his drawing is clearer than a really good photo would be.
Now that he's sorta retired you don't even get yelled at so much when you call.
Regards,
Alan
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,245
Likes: 21
From: Abingdon MD
God bless Doc Rebuild. He forgot more about C3's than I will ever know. He was very helpful some years back regarding the restoration of my 72- spent 15 minutes or so discussing my options at Corvettes at Carlisle.
Rickman
Rickman
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 2,157
Likes: 0
From: Pensacola FLA
Hello gang,
As most of you know, I am restoring a 72 coupe.I am up to the steering column. It's out of the car , on the work bench. It is a straight column, no tilt, no tele. Just a turn signal. The wheel is off, the rag joint is off. (both are easy enough). I might add, I could send it out but I would like to tackle it myself. I have been looking for a diagram of the parts in order, but can't find one. Does anyone have one thay can send me? Also the main bolt of'course spins the shaft. What's the best way to unbolt that? I would like to completely dis assamble it, restore each part and re assemble and repaint it. I'm just asking for anyones advice that may have done this job before. Any pit falls I may run into. Any short cuts, any sequence I might need to follow.
Thank you in advance
Elkhartgreen72 (Dave)
As most of you know, I am restoring a 72 coupe.
I am up to the steering column. It's out of the car , on the work bench. It is a straight column, no tilt, no tele. Just a turn signal. The wheel is off, the rag joint is off. (both are easy enough). I might add, I could send it out but I would like to tackle it myself. I have been looking for a diagram of the parts in order, but can't find one. Does anyone have one thay can send me? Also the main bolt of'course spins the shaft. What's the best way to unbolt that? I would like to completely dis assamble it, restore each part and re assemble and repaint it. I'm just asking for anyones advice that may have done this job before. Any pit falls I may run into. Any short cuts, any sequence I might need to follow.Thank you in advance
Elkhartgreen72 (Dave)
I rebuilt my 1968's standard column. The 68 was a pretty easy task. I ordered my parts from Corvette Steering. I purchased the upper bearing/housing assembly and the lower bearing kit. When you do the upper bearing, document the order of parts as they come off. The lower bearing kit comes with assembly instructions.
The hardest part is beating the lower bearing out of the column housing. The 68 column housing has a notch at the lower end that allows you to put a screw driver or chisel on the bearing flange so you can beat it out with a hammer. I sprayed some liquid wrench on it the night before to help it break loose from the column housing.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Pro
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 529
Likes: 0
From: Waco TX
I'm just wrapping up overhauling my the tilt/tele column from my 72. I used the diagram in the GM service manual. It shows all of the parts in order and has useful information that will help you with the process. I blasted the external parts and soaked the rest in solvent. It went back together easy enough. I'm glad that I went to the trouble, it was pretty nasty on the inside...hardened grease, grime etc... Good luck on yours!!
Hello gang,
As most of you know, I am restoring a 72 coupe.I am up to the steering column. It's out of the car , on the work bench. It is a straight column, no tilt, no tele. Just a turn signal. The wheel is off, the rag joint is off. (both are easy enough). I might add, I could send it out but I would like to tackle it myself. I have been looking for a diagram of the parts in order, but can't find one. Does anyone have one thay can send me? Also the main bolt of'course spins the shaft. What's the best way to unbolt that? I would like to completely dis assamble it, restore each part and re assemble and repaint it. I'm just asking for anyones advice that may have done this job before. Any pit falls I may run into. Any short cuts, any sequence I might need to follow.
Thank you in advance
Elkhartgreen72 (Dave)
As most of you know, I am restoring a 72 coupe.
I am up to the steering column. It's out of the car , on the work bench. It is a straight column, no tilt, no tele. Just a turn signal. The wheel is off, the rag joint is off. (both are easy enough). I might add, I could send it out but I would like to tackle it myself. I have been looking for a diagram of the parts in order, but can't find one. Does anyone have one thay can send me? Also the main bolt of'course spins the shaft. What's the best way to unbolt that? I would like to completely dis assamble it, restore each part and re assemble and repaint it. I'm just asking for anyones advice that may have done this job before. Any pit falls I may run into. Any short cuts, any sequence I might need to follow.Thank you in advance
Elkhartgreen72 (Dave)
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,720
Likes: 12
From: Chattanooga TN
