steering column
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
The 1978 steering column will bolt right into a 1979. You only need to change the flexible coupling if the old one is worn out.
Look carefully at the rubber disc. Is it torn around the stop pins or attaching bolts? Does the rubber disc appear very hard and brittle? Do the stop pins show evidence that they are heavily worn where they contact the slots in the column flange?
If your flexible coupling shows any of the above, then you should consider purchasing a new one. The GM part number is 7818568. It is available through any GM dealer, GMPartsDirect.com, Zip Products, or many of the other Corvette suppliers.
Tips on installing the column: Carefully slide the column back through the dash hole. Insert the column flange onto the two flexible coupling bolts (the bolts are different sizes so the flange will only go on one way.) Snug but do not tighten the column in place with the two vertical screws up under the dash. Tighten the nuts and lockwashers on the flexible coupling to 20 ft-lbs. Reconnect the electrical connectors to the ignition, turn signal, and the dimmer switches.
If the “harmonica” electrical connector from the new switch does not snap correctly onto the vehicle wiring connector, the problem can easily be corrected by swapping the connector from your original steering column onto wires from the new column switch. Make sure you reinstall the wires in exactly the same connector positions.
Install the lower column plate with its stud and carriage bolt. Now check the alignment of the flexible coupling pins in the column flange slots. They should be central. You may need to move the lower column and outside plate around in order to make the pins central. Then reattach the floor fasteners and torque to 10 ft-lbs. Rotate the steering wheel 90 degrees and again visually check if the flexible coupling pins are central in the flange slots. Loosen the floor fasteners and readjust the column as necessary. Torque the two vertical column screws to 15 ft-lbs.
Reattach the AC duct, the crossover bar, and lower dash panels.
The following is a scan of the steering column installation. Your steering column does not have a lever sticking out of the column out in the engine compartment like the drawing.
http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/StdC3C...llationPic.doc
Good luck,
Jim
Look carefully at the rubber disc. Is it torn around the stop pins or attaching bolts? Does the rubber disc appear very hard and brittle? Do the stop pins show evidence that they are heavily worn where they contact the slots in the column flange?
If your flexible coupling shows any of the above, then you should consider purchasing a new one. The GM part number is 7818568. It is available through any GM dealer, GMPartsDirect.com, Zip Products, or many of the other Corvette suppliers.
Tips on installing the column: Carefully slide the column back through the dash hole. Insert the column flange onto the two flexible coupling bolts (the bolts are different sizes so the flange will only go on one way.) Snug but do not tighten the column in place with the two vertical screws up under the dash. Tighten the nuts and lockwashers on the flexible coupling to 20 ft-lbs. Reconnect the electrical connectors to the ignition, turn signal, and the dimmer switches.
If the “harmonica” electrical connector from the new switch does not snap correctly onto the vehicle wiring connector, the problem can easily be corrected by swapping the connector from your original steering column onto wires from the new column switch. Make sure you reinstall the wires in exactly the same connector positions.
Install the lower column plate with its stud and carriage bolt. Now check the alignment of the flexible coupling pins in the column flange slots. They should be central. You may need to move the lower column and outside plate around in order to make the pins central. Then reattach the floor fasteners and torque to 10 ft-lbs. Rotate the steering wheel 90 degrees and again visually check if the flexible coupling pins are central in the flange slots. Loosen the floor fasteners and readjust the column as necessary. Torque the two vertical column screws to 15 ft-lbs.
Reattach the AC duct, the crossover bar, and lower dash panels.
The following is a scan of the steering column installation. Your steering column does not have a lever sticking out of the column out in the engine compartment like the drawing.
http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/StdC3C...llationPic.doc
Good luck,
Jim
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,000
Likes: 22
From: Boulder Creek California
Hey Jim, I finally got to work disassembling my column that I started on about a year ago now. I want to thank you for your tech papers, they've made it a methodical, organized process rather than the hair-pulling mess it probably would have been otherwise. Stopped for the night because I don't have a bolt to pull out the bearing-case pivot pins but barring that I'm pretty close to finished disassembling. I'm not fixing anything in particular, just doing a complete rebuild replacing anything plastic or worn out. So thanks!
-Chris
-Chris
