Finally finished rebuilding 77 Column
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 178
Likes: 2
From: Litchfield NH
Finally finished rebuilding 77 Column
Just finished reassembling the T & T on my 77. All that for a shroud. Oh well the whole thing is rebuilt now. new bearings seeals lock levers spheres and you name it and it has been done. The only thing I need to get fixed is the tilt lever cruise handle. The threaded end is bent and I dont want to keep it in the new lock lever because I am afraid of it breaking. It breaks and it time to dissasemble again. Anyone know of anybody that can fix those levers. Seems the cruise tilt levers arent produced anymore. I would like to thank Jim Shea for all his help on my first Steering Column rebuild. Jim your a great person and friend. Thanks again Jim. Pics to follow. Heater core assembley next
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
In your last picture I can see that the column bracket that mounts up into the dash is missing what we called the aluminum "capsule" on the driver side (I can't see the other side). The capsules (there needs to be one on each side of the column bracket) are designed to hold the column into the dash and also be able to slide off of the bracket if the column is compressed into the dash in a frontal collision.
Good work in rebuilding the column.
Jim
Good work in rebuilding the column.
Jim
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
As alluded to above, yup, fer sure, them columns are a mechanical nitemare.....I remember Jim Shea and I conveyed a funny comment about how many pounds of crap can you fit in a 2 lbs bag something like that....tile/tele/horn/steering/signals/lights, cruise, 4 ways, key, column lock, gotta be summfin ELSE we can pack in there??
get a larger hammer, we can make it fit....much less the newer ones with airbags even yet.....
get a larger hammer, we can make it fit....much less the newer ones with airbags even yet.....
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
The tilt release lever always screwed into the T&T steering column (from 1969 through 1982). The turn signal lever screwed into T&T column from 1969 through 1976.
For 1977 the turn signal/dimmer/wash-wipe lever plugged-in. From 1978through 1982 the turn signal/dimmer/and optional cruise lever plugged-in.
The tilt lever with the cruise button on the end was one year only on the 1977 Corvette. After 1977 the cruise button was on the turn signal lever.
Jim
For 1977 the turn signal/dimmer/wash-wipe lever plugged-in. From 1978through 1982 the turn signal/dimmer/and optional cruise lever plugged-in.
The tilt lever with the cruise button on the end was one year only on the 1977 Corvette. After 1977 the cruise button was on the turn signal lever.
Jim
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 178
Likes: 2
From: Litchfield NH
Question? With the colum out of the car will the steering wheel lock when the key is out? I just cant remember before I disassembled the colum if it locked or not. Thanks. Right now it doesnt lock but just turns freely with key out. Thanks again.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
Hate to say it but --- "You have a problem inside your steering column."
Your 1977 T&T column has a small lever next to your ignition key/lock cylinder. When you lift up the lever, this enables you to rotate the key from RUN and OFF to OFF-LOCK and ACCESSORY. When you reach OFF-LOCK the motion of the lock cylinder should have moved the lock bolt so that it extended rearward and engaged the toothed lock plate. Thus preventing the steering wheel from turning.
First of all, when you rotate your key, does the rod to your ignition switch move back and forth? That at least will tell us that the lock cylinder and the plastic sector are engaged and moving the rack back and forth.
Jim
Your 1977 T&T column has a small lever next to your ignition key/lock cylinder. When you lift up the lever, this enables you to rotate the key from RUN and OFF to OFF-LOCK and ACCESSORY. When you reach OFF-LOCK the motion of the lock cylinder should have moved the lock bolt so that it extended rearward and engaged the toothed lock plate. Thus preventing the steering wheel from turning.
First of all, when you rotate your key, does the rod to your ignition switch move back and forth? That at least will tell us that the lock cylinder and the plastic sector are engaged and moving the rack back and forth.
Jim
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
Aluminum capsules on the column mounting bracket. You should consider some two part epoxy glue to attach the capsules to the bracket. You basically want the glue to take up space so that the capsules don't rattle on the bracket. So if there is paint on the bracket just leave it there because you are not really gluing the capsules on the bracket you just want a tight fitting capsule that doesn't rattle. Yet the capsules will need to allow the bracket to slide forward in a collision. You really don't want to use loctite.
Jim
Jim
