Hey guys,...

I had the opportunity today to pick a tilt steering column in excellent condition out of a 1986 Pontiac Trans Am for $25. So before I could consult the corvette experts here on the forum, I obviously bought it. I would like to install it in my dad's 72 Corvette. He's wanted a tilt column for quite sometime and when I called him to tell him I could get one for $25 he told me to jump on it. Now heres the obvious question. It looks like the one in my 82... that is from the inside of the car. But will it actually fit his 72? Seems as though most the Corvette Column's have some sort of spline on the end of the shaft. This one has two holes a bolt goes through to lock it to the steering box. So in any event,... will it fit .... and if not,.... how do I make it fit???

Thanks,

Dan

 

You don't make another model steering column fit your dad's Corvette.

You need to find a 1969 through 1976 T&T Corvette column and it will bolt right in. You can also adapt a 1977 through 1982 Corvette T&T column to fit a 1972 Vette. Other model GM columns will NOT work.

The C3 (1969 - 1982) Corvette T&T and standard (non-adjustable) columns were specifically designed to bolt-in and function correctly in the C3 Corvette body. (Note, the first year 1968 C3 Vette is not included since it was a one year carryover from the 1967 model).

Jim

 

I have NO CLUE about that T/A column, so what Jim says is most likely true, but when I bought a junker 78-82 column for ten bux some 11 years ago, I managed to swap enough stuff around to make it work well in my '72 here, I know I swapped some things around, including housings as I recall....I also know I pulled it back toward me aby 3/4 inch some years ago in yet another modification go round....

GENE

 

The basic design is the same from one model to another. The difference is in the output shaft to steering rag joint, mounting tabs, and some of the electric parts.

If you are comfortable with welding and making modifications you can do this no problem. In fact, I did the opposite. I installed a 81 Vette tilt/tele into a 69 Camaro.

You will need both columns side by side. You will grind off the firewall mounting plate from the straight Vette column and weld it to the Firebird column. You may need to change the lower shaft, or you may be able to use the firebird rag joint and bolt it right to the Corvette steering gear box.

The Firebird column will have wipers, high beams, and cruise in the column. You can simply unplug the floor mounted highbeam switch on the Vette and connect it to the Firebird column (same three wires).

I am currently experimenting with running a Vette wiper motor from a late model GM column switch. Should know in about three weeks if and how it will work. You can also get an Adiovox CS100 cruise control for under $100 that will wire direct into the stock Firebird column mounted cruise switch.

So, if you are willing to kill the better part of a weekend, spend some time connecting wires, and doing some welding...it will work just fine.

The truth is though you might score a deal on a Vette tilt/tele column for under $100 that will indeed bolt right in. The only problem is most of them have worn out bearing/swivel joints and it will need to be rebuilt.

Oh...the ignition switch is exactly the same. It will plug right up as it is now.

 

Hey Chris, see you back in town, gimme an update on your projects there....

GENE

 

PM me your phone number again (I don't have it with me at work) and I will give you a shout.

 

You have been given some good advice here, especially from Jim Shea. If you will look in the www.corvettefaq.com section, you will see that Jim has put a lot of information there. His background in the field is obvious since he worked for the folks who made our steering columns, before retiring.

Above all else, I would listen to Jim; he is the steering guru.

There are enough vendors out there who will sell you a Corvette column. Why adapt another column to your car; can you say Grind, Weld, and Modify? Wouldn't that make you an official member of the Bubba club?

Gary

 

Hey...I am not only a member...I am the president!

 

AND I"m prez of the Vice Department.....


GENE

IF all else fails we do it OUR way.....

 

Take this for what it is worth.

At Saginaw Steering Gear Division we had skilled trades people that specialized in welding. We knew what materials were being welded and could specifiy exactly how the parts should go together. Even with this knowledge and skill, we NEVER relied upon just a weld to steer a car. Even on a one shot - prototype basis.

We would overlap parts, pin them, then weld them.

Or we would screw them together and then weld them.

We always had a backup system built into the design in case the weld failed.

That was just our philosophy.

PS: I know that some other manufacturers (car companies) may not have been as conservative as Saginaw in their steering designs.

Just my 2c

Jim

 

Let me start by saying I'm definately up to the challenge.... the column appears to be similar to the 77-82 Column, the only differences being that this is not telescoping. The only thing I am worried about is the SAFETY. I don't want to break the column around a hard turn and wind up in a ditch. At the same time the columns I have found so far have been $500 and above (ebay) and the ones I can pull out of junkers are no where near to where I live. I have this column now and I would like to use it,.... if possible of course.

I was thinking,... is it possible to change the shaft protruding out of the bottom of the colunm with the one currently in the vette. I know nothing about column's but I am assuming that theirs some type of universal joint holding together before the steering wheel. If this was possible,... I would be able to keep the tilt, and still be able to install the new column.. Just a thought,

Dan

 

I understand Jim's point and I wouldn't suggest you weld the steering shaft. However, welding the mounting bracket from the firewall and relocating/welding the dash mount bracket is not big deal and anybody with some welding experience can handle that.

Look at the firebird rag joint and see if it will mate to the vette rag joint and allow you to connect the gear box.

Sounds like a fun project. However, it will be a bit involved and require a bit of time to fit in in there as tight and right as the stock unit.

 

Later 77-82 columns are not nearly as expensive as the 69-76 ones. If you want a cheaper way out while still being safe, get one of those.

 

This thread has me wanting to add tilt tele to my car again. I thought I was just about over that. Time to go to ebay.

 

Tilt / Tele are expensive as hell right now on ebay.

I wish a company made an aftermarket tilt/tele. I think they would clean up if they could do it at a decent price.

 

The 1977 through 1982 T&T Corvette column can be fairly easily adapted to 1969 through 1976 Vettes. The 1977 will bolt right in. The 1978 - 82 needs to have the bowl shortened where it meets the instrument cluster. If they are a lot cheaper this might be the way to go.

Here is the link to the paper describing in detail how to adapt one.

http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...3Rev01FE05.doc

 

That's a great write up. I am getting ready to interchange the electric parts from a 2001 Camaro column into the early C3 tilt/tele. I know it would work on the 78 up, but I am doubtful the casting and mounting pins are in place in the lower housing to install the wiper/high beam lever assembly. I am hoping I can use the lower collar off the Camaro if needed to get that to work.

It all else fails I will simply work on making the Camaro column fit the car and abandon the tele option (don't use it anyway).

When I did my 69 Camaro conversion I was using a 1981 Vette column. I had to dremel out the window where the turn signal lever goes to get a bit more room to run the later model wiper switch and cruise lever from a 1996 Caprice column. It worked very well. In that case I also shortened the entire column by about 3" (the housing) so that it would fit behind the firewall where all that is exposed on the engine side is the inner shaft. It took a bit of doing but it works great. The advantage was it was a newer column to start with.

 

While you guys were giving this great FREE advice (love CF) last night i was putting a 75' tilt/tele in my 68'. Hammer and cutting chisel in hand. Wires were the same colors but connecter head was different.Cut and reconnect, no big deal.
Not to high-jack the thread, but is there a collar or something I could use to eliminate the key-hole on the column in order to use the one on my 68' dash????? Two keys looks a little "Bubba".

 

Do any of you custom guys have any pictures of your steering columns and installation.... I would like to compile some idea's if possible?


Thanks,

Dan