Tilt/Tele Steering Columns
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,871
Likes: 6
From: Sault Ste. Marie Ontario
Tilt/Tele Steering Columns
Hi Guys,
I came across a tilt/telescoping column last night for my 73 coupe. The car currently has a standard column in it that makes for difficult entry/exit from the car.
The column available is from a 77 coupe and comes complete with the key and the wheel.
Can anyone tell me is this would be a direct fit and can I use the existing wheel from my 73 column on it?
I haven't made the purchase yet, so any advise would be greatly appreciated.
Kind Regards,
Ian
I came across a tilt/telescoping column last night for my 73 coupe. The car currently has a standard column in it that makes for difficult entry/exit from the car.
The column available is from a 77 coupe and comes complete with the key and the wheel.
Can anyone tell me is this would be a direct fit and can I use the existing wheel from my 73 column on it?
I haven't made the purchase yet, so any advise would be greatly appreciated.
Kind Regards,
Ian
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,117
Likes: 104
From: charlotte north carolina
from what i can remember from previous posts on the forum, the column will fit, but the trim collar is a different diameter and the switches may be different also. do a search and look for jim shea's name. he's the expert on steering columns.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 269
Likes: 0
I think '77 was the first year they started to have the wiper controls on the turn signal stalk. I suppose this could mean the wiring might be different so you may want to watch out for that. You may check out Jim Sheas steering papers. http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/?page_id=4
About half way down there is link for swapping 77 and later columns into earlier C3 cars.
Good luck!
About half way down there is link for swapping 77 and later columns into earlier C3 cars.
Good luck!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,871
Likes: 6
From: Sault Ste. Marie Ontario
Thank you for the links ot Jim's notes on the 77 column. I had forgotten about the wash/wiper and high beam controls on the newer column.
I'll definately review Jim's information before making a move on the new column.
I'll definately review Jim's information before making a move on the new column.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
i have some first-hand experience with putting a 79 column into a 72 - pretty much the same thing you want to do. You have to trim ~2.25" off the inner end of the upper housing so that it will fit into the dash opening. If you want to ditch the floor dimmer you can cut the wiring, extend it, and plug the harness into the column-mounted switch. The plug is the same. I couldn't get the long comb-type connector to mate up with the 72 connector, so I removed the wires from the 79 and 72 column connectors and inserted the wires from the 79 column into the 72 connector. Not hard to do.
The wheel from your car will fit the newer column. I had mine mounted but I decided to use the smaller, more padded wheel from the 79.
It's a very worthwhile effort. The difference in driving position is more like a new car rather than having the wheel 2" from your chest.
Rick B.
Before:
After:
The wheel from your car will fit the newer column. I had mine mounted but I decided to use the smaller, more padded wheel from the 79.
It's a very worthwhile effort. The difference in driving position is more like a new car rather than having the wheel 2" from your chest.
Rick B.
Before:
After:
