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The steering wheel on my 81 was replaced with a aftermarket replacement but I never liked it. Nut sure what parts I need to get it back to original. I was hoping to leave it as is until I got to tidying up the interior but i believe i need to sort it sooner as some bolts have stripped the thread on the part they connect to. I'm hoping that's a part that would need to be replaced anyway. The 3 1/4" bolts in the last photo are the ones that have started to strip the thread on the part that they attach to. Any idea how far I need to go for replacement parts? I'm most likely going to pull the whole column and do the bearings etc, anyway.
Well , that's a tilt -tele column that's got an aftermarket steering hub and wheel , the rusty looking "star" screw in the middle of that hub is an original tele lock piece so keep that .Also that being there is a good indication the telescopic shaft is still there as well.
the damaged threads are in the hub which is aftermarket so it wont effect your rebuilding to original.
hard to see just what's affected under the aftermarket hub , but you will need an original wheel and hub and a cover and the tele lock wheel that sits over the steering wheel and then all the horn pieces . Does the column still have a steering lock ?
If your going to do the bearings its so much easier to pull the column out and do it on a nice clean bench .. The only "special tool " you need is a lock plate compressor to remove (and replace) the big C clip. Zip corvettes now sell some good top bearings for these columns now .
Get the Jim Shea papers , they have pics and a great set of instructions for working on c3 columns .
Antz. Let me guess....your car is a '76 or possibly an early 77. These were the units with the VEGA steering wheels and universally HATED....so they stuck an adapter kit on it after they chucked the Vega wheel in the dumpster.
76's are tough in that they are basically one year assemblies and few other parts fit.
Earlier tilt 'n tele columns fit.
UnkaHal
I have an 'extra' 76 TNT, but I'm not ready to sell it quite yet.
edit I looked a little more carefully and see that it's probably a 77 or 78....early 77's had the 76 Vega wheel...some say only on the NON TNT wheel.
Antz. Let me guess....your car is a '76 or possibly an early 77. These were the units with the VEGA steering wheels and universally HATED....so they stuck an adapter kit on it after they chucked the Vega wheel in the dumpster.
76's are tough in that they are basically one year assemblies and few other parts fit.
Earlier tilt 'n tele columns fit.
UnkaHal
I have an 'extra' 76 TNT, but I'm not ready to sell it quite yet.
edit I looked a little more carefully and see that it's probably a 77 or 78....early 77's had the 76 Vega wheel...some say only on the NON TNT wheel.
its an 81. So parts shouldn't be a problem.
haha a closer look at it today and found some coolant hose used as a spacer.
its an 81. So parts shouldn't be a problem.
haha a closer look at it today and found some coolant hose used as a spacer.
DONT THROW THAT AWAY ! that's a factory item !!!!
Its a bump stopper for when you put the tele all the way forward. There should be 2 plastic washers that go either side . Looks like your missing the big spring that they used for the horn electrical signal as well.
I'm not sure if they still make them .
DONT THROW THAT AWAY ! that's a factory item !!!!
Its a bump stopper for when you put the tele all the way forward. There should be 2 plastic washers that go either side . Looks like your missing the big spring that they used for the horn electrical signal as well.
I'm not sure if they still make them .
Wait are you serious about the factory item bit? I thought you were joking until you mentioned the plastic washers either side.
I think the spring you are talking about is available.
Wait are you serious about the factory item bit? I thought you were joking until you mentioned the plastic washers either side.
I think the spring you are talking about is available.
Yes, it's stock. I have all the 81 pics you need. You want a "rack kit" , the upper/lower bearings, and the plastic retainer. These "were" still a dealer item when I did it.
Plus whatever is missing.
Yes, it's stock. I have all the 81 pics you need. You want a "rack kit" , the upper/lower bearings, and the plastic retainer. These "were" still a dealer item when I did it.
Plus whatever is missing.
Haha I did wonder why they had bothered putting ti in the since there was no telescopic function once they had finished and i didn't think it was long enough to do anything.
Sadly no local Chevrolet dealers in NZ. We do have Holden (another GM brand) but I suspect they wont have the parts and will want such a stupid amount it won't be worth going through them. Luckily there is A local corvette parts guy here that has most parts in stock, and for normally for a better price then trying to import them yourself.
Wait are you serious about the factory item bit? I thought you were joking until you mentioned the plastic washers either side.
I think the spring you are talking about is available.
Sounds like your local guy can help you out with some pieces . The freight charges to Aust. and probably N.Z. as well are so high now , it makes it painful to buy parts from USA now. I know rare spares sells the bottom column bearing as it's the same in some toranas and the hq -wb Holdens. But they want 90 Aus. for one.
Sounds like your local guy can help you out with some pieces . The freight charges to Aust. and probably N.Z. as well are so high now , it makes it painful to buy parts from USA now. I know rare spares sells the bottom column bearing as it's the same in some toranas and the hq -wb Holdens. But they want 90 Aus. for one.
I do have two different US shipping addresses. Although that does mean I still pay shipping to here. But it still normally cheaper than shipping directly here. Just takes a bit longer.
I do have two different US shipping addresses. Although that does mean I still pay shipping to here. But it still normally cheaper than shipping directly here. Just takes a bit longer.
You definitely need to order a new plastic retainer clip. I see cracks and say with almost complete certainty that it will break to pieces when you remove. It serves another important function. It acts as an insulator for the big spring that is part of the horn wiring. Without the clip/insulator the horn will sound continuously because it will have a constant ground at the horn relay coil.
The steering wheel is irrelevant to running the headlamps off relays as all of the wiring changes are under the hood. Essentially you just run a new (and circuit protected--thermal (self-resetting circuit breaker is best) from the alternator to a couple SPST relays mounted in a convenient location. Give ground to the coils and get power to energize the coils from the headlamp (low and high beam) feeds. I was seriously considering that modification until I cleaned all of the chassis grounds. That made a WORLD of difference in the entire electrical system! The headlamps (I'm fairly certain they're all original in my '79) now burn nice and bright and give very good night visibility.
Steering column parts
