I have a 1976 4-speed Corvette. I recently disassembled the steering column, replaced the lower bearing (and it's associated parts) and the the upper bearing support. I reassembled the the shift tube to the mast jacket, transmission control lock tube housing, wave washer, support plate lock, thrust washer, and retaining ring.
Next I installed the bearing housing support and the four attaching screws. At this point I wanted to make sure that I could shift from Reverse to 1st gear and could not move the shifter. I removed the cable from the transmission and still could not shift. If the four screws are lossened it shifts.
Has anyone had a similar problem?

 

I had the same problem with my column when I reassembled it (74 auto with tilt-telescopic). Jim Shea's paper said to torque to 88 in/lbs which made the shift tube very hard to turn. The chevy service manual has the torque setting at 60 in/lbs so thats what I set them at. I have not gotten the column installed back in the car yet to see if everything is going to work OK.

Dale

 

I'm not alone I see! Let me know as soon as you find out. Good luck.

 

It may be a while before it goes back in the car!

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s...ishedfront.jpg

 

Please download this paper on the General Motors steering column/transmission shift interlock system.
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...tems27JL04.doc

This way we will be using common terminology.

At the end of the paper on page #4, there is a drawing of the C3 Corvette and manual transmission.

The most confusing thing to me is that you state that you disconnected the cable from the transmission. If this is the case, you have eliminated the steering column from the picture.

From the picture on page #4. The interlock cable attaches to the upper portion of the reverse shift lever on the transmission. If you disconnected the cable at that point, and still can't shift into REVERSE, then your problem is in the transmission since you are no longer connected to the cable.

If you disconnected the interlock cable at the steering column and you cannot shift into REVERSE, your cable itself might be frozen and won't allow the shifter to move the reverse lever.

So let's resolve this issue before we try and tackle the steering column.

Jim

 

Sorrry for the confusing post. I did not try to shift the gears on the transmission.
I was trying to say that I disconnected the interlock cable where it attaches to the steering column lever and I attempted to move the lower steering column lever to the full UP/DOWN position, but I could not budge the lever.

 

Let's take a look at your steering column. BTW, it really helps that you are identifying your column parts using the descriptions on the 1969-76 T&T Column Blowup at the www.corvettefaq.com websight.

I am afraid that you might have a big problem with the shift tube inside the steering column. You stated that you "I reassembled the the shift tube (#66) to the mast jacket (#63), transmission control lock tube housing (#58),..." The question is exactly HOW did you reassemble the shift tube to the tube housing?

My Disassembly & Repair Drawings Page #3 shows special tool J-23072 being used to remove the shift tube from the tube housing (bowl). It also shows special tool J-23073 being used to reassemble the shift tube to the tube housing. Without those special tools, (especially when reassembling the parts) you very well might have broken the plastic injection holding the two parts of the shift tube together. This might have caused the shift tube to shorten and the lower shift tube lever to be binding on the window cutout on the mast jacket.

The shift tube is rather fragile and I haven't found any good way around making this connection without the special tool(s).

You might have to eliminate your steering column/transmission shift interlock system and just leave the shift tube lever in the full UP position all of the time.

With respect to the torque spec on the four support screws. I think that the original specification was to tighten the screws to 50 inch-lbs. When it became apparant that some of the supports were loosening, the spec was increased. My service manuals show that the spec varied from 50 inch-lbs all the way up to 88 inch-lbs. The design didn't change, but it was hoped that the increased tightening torque would eliminate the problem. I think that locktite was also added to the screws.

I would suggest that you should tighten the four screws in increments so you get the support tightened to the support plate lock without binding.

Jim

 

When I was reassembling mine I could not find the tool to pull the tube so I made one. All you need is one of those expandible plumbers bungs from the hardware store and some threaded rod, nuts and washers. I just put the rubber between two washers and inserted the rod into the tube. You can tighten it in place with a long extension from the bottom of the tube. Position the tube in place and position a large socket over the rod so it contacts the bearing housing. Then just thread another nut onto the rod and tighten down on the socket drawing the tube up into place. Worked for me.

Dale

 

Thank you Jim for you insights.
Instead of using special tool J-23072, I used a steering wheel puller to remove the shift tube from the tube housing.
To reassemble I used a socket and hammer. I guess that I'm off to the nearest recycler to find a replacement since I'm sure this cannot be repaired. Live and learn!

Thank you also Dale for your reply as I am sure it will help in the future.

 

Thank you also Dale for your reply as I am sure it will help in the future.

Thank you Jim for you insights.
Instead of using special tool J-23072, I used a steering wheel puller to remove the shift tube from the tube housing.
To reassemble I used a socket and hammer. I guess that I'm off to the nearest recycler to find a replacement since I'm sure this cannot be repaired. Live and learn!

Thank you also Dale for your reply as I am sure it will help in the future.

 

Jim,
Can you tell me what makes and models used the same Tilt&Telescoping steering columns as my 1976 Corvette? Thank you in advance.

 

Jim,

I have a question for you. The lock shoes on a 1975 column the GM parts book shows with and without top notch. Can either one be used. My column is loose in all but one postion and I was wondering if this could be my problem.

 

One shoe has three V-slot latch positions to engage the pin in the support. The other shoe typically has four V-slot latch positions. They are staggered so that you end up with 7 tilt positions (they alternate latching.) You don't want two of the same tilt shoes. They will latch together and you will end up with only half the tilt positions. Sorry that I might have confused people with the term notches versus the V-slots that define the tilt positions. The notches were to alert the manufacturing plant so they could keep the two different type shoes separate.

I am really not sure why your tilt head would be loose in all positions but one. The problem would seem to be related to the shoes but I am not sure.

BTW, do NOT put grease on the notches in the tilt shoes. They should be "dry as a bone." If they are lubricated you will find that the tilt shoes can be made to pop out of engagement.

Jim

 

Thanks Jim

 

LasVegasVette,
Sorry that I didn't answer this sooner.
The lower part of the Corvette column (the part under the dash) is unique to Corvette. The tubular jackets with the welded-on dash bracket and welded-on floor bracket are unique. The T&T column jacket and the standard (non-adjustable) column jackets are different from each other and are not the same as any other columns.

I am not positive but I would expect that the steering shaft and the shift tube might be unique as well. If there were any other GM columns where the length of these parts were the same, then they might interchange. The Vette standard column and the Vette T&T column parts do not interchange.

Now the actual column head (where the ignition lock cylinder is installed) is most likely common with a lot of other GM steering columns from that time frame. Saginaw was pretty good at using common parts throughout their steering system lineup of components.

Jim

 

Thanks Jim. I will repair (if I can) this steering column. Wish me luck!