Has anybody changed a 76 column with the 75 or 77? Having problems finding parts for my 76. Basically, the top end from the steering wheel up

 

You mean from the wheel down?


As in, the entire thing?


Or do you just need the horn button?

 

I rebuilt a 76' T/T column to use on my 71'. The part you need is the hub and hub cover so the 71' (in my case) wheel will fit the 76' column. I finially found a used one on eBay.

http://www.artscorvetteparts.com/par...c-334fe28d217f

Here's a hub on eBay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/68-TO...mZ230260839428

 

Sorry, I was a little vague. To keep the t&t from sliding I have an allen screw to hold the rod in place. I have the horn contact ring with the spring and the wheel. I'm waiting the assembly manual. I've called zip products and cor. amer. they don't really have anything on the 76.

 

You can fairly easily install either a 1969-75 steering wheel, horn, and telescope locking parts. Or you can fairly easily install a 1977-82 steering wheel, horn, and locking parts. These parts are going to be a lot easier to find than the one year only 1976 parts.

Here are the links to the two papers on the above.

http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...nRev16FE06.doc

http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...umn16FE061.doc

Jim

 

eBay is your only hope for 76' parts or you can give these guys a call. They helped me out when I was rebuilding my 71' column so I gave them all the left over parts from the 76' column I used.

http://www.columnsgalore.com/index.htm

 

Jim, rought cost of going to 77 column. How easy to change for a guy working in his garage?
thanks

 

Removing a C3 Corvette steering column from your car really only requires one person. Reassembly into the car is a lot easier with a second person guiding the lower end of the column through the dash and onto the flexible coupling. There isn't even a need to lift the car.

I don't know about the cost of a 1977 column. It is one year only which makes it quite a bit more difficult to find than the later ones. The 1978 through 1982 columns are a lot more available and can be modified like the 1977 to fit your dash. If you really want to change your 1976 T&T for a later type with the headlight dimmer.

I think that you can find all of the necessary steering wheel, locking hardware, and horn parts for everything (except 1976) at the Zip Store.
Click on C3 Parts
Click on 68-82 Steering Systems (picture of the steering gear)
Click on 68-82 Steering Column parts
Click on 69-82 Tilt & Tele Steering Column

You can then find all of your needed parts:
Clicking on Horn Button
Click on Steering Column Components
Click on Steering Wheel & Hub
Click on Tilt & Telescopic Components

I personally would install a 1977-82 leather wrapped steering wheel on your 1976 T&T column. I had a new 1976 Corvette. When the 1977s came out, I immediately purchased the 1977 steering wheel and the necessary attaching parts (hub, locking ring, horn button, etc) to make the swap.

Jim

 

Stay away from the 77 column. As stated above, it's a one year only column. The wiper control is mounted on the stalk, not on the dash, like every other year from 68-82. They're great for a street rod or a 77 Vette, but not for any other year Corvette.

 

Thanks, I have a new steering wheel (for 77-82), I'll call zip and see what parts I need to change over the top end to fit the s. wheel I have. Everthing looked good from the C clip down. Any sug. would be appreciated.
Thanks

 

Here's some pics when I changed my '76 wheel to a '75 along with a parts list... it may help out..

Tab,

http://s189.photobucket.com/albums/z...moval/?start=0

 

Heh.....while trying to track down the offending wire that is causing my fuse to blow every time I use the turn signal, I dug DEEP into the steering column, on a 76 T and T, and still didn't find any exposed wire. While I was in, though, I tightened those 3 bolts to get rid of the small amount of play in the wheel, then went to put it all back together again.



Only to have the little plastic thing that goes over the retainer clip for the shaft litterally crumble in my hands. It was like crumbling pastry.



So, everything on the car is done.......but I can't do ANYTHING till I find that part, lol.

 

Here's the part I think you are talking about. I got mine at the Chevy Dealership parts dept.

http://s189.photobucket.com/albums/z...hange029-1.jpg

http://s189.photobucket.com/albums/z...lchange028.jpg

 

The part is available from the Zip Store:
http://www.zip-products.com/Corvette...CF2198B161FBEB

Also available under the GM part number 7808385 at GM dealers as mentioned above.

BTW, it is more than a retainer. It is also an insulator. Without it in place, the large spring on the lower horn contact assembly will touch the metal locking plate and your horn will blow continuously.

Jim (Bubba) Shea once had to cover his locking plate with duct tape because it was a weekend and he couldn't purchase a new retainer until the following week.

Jim

 

Thanks, the pictures help allot. I see I'm missing some parts from my 76 column. The one part I think I'm missing is what looks like a stand contact that attaches to the hub but can't seem to locate that item on the zip site. Any suggestions?
Thanks

 

Is this is? SC-45

http://s189.photobucket.com/albums/z...lchange003.jpg

 

I think it's item #24 of 39 in your slide show. I believe it attaches to the hub with the 3 little screws in the picture. The # stamped on the part is 9753107. Again, thanks for the really nice pictures.
The guy I brought the car from took many things apart and partially reassembled with what parts he still had. Basically, all I have on the column (from the "C" clip up to the wheel) is the lower contact spring and the s. wheel. At least everthing is intact from the "C" clip down to the s. box.
This is going to be easy compared to what was done to the headlight vaccuum system. But that's story for another day.
Thanks

 

OK, gppd luck with it.

Check this out for your Headlights when you get around to them...
I think this is the right diagram.

http://s189.photobucket.com/albums/z...ettelights.jpg

 

Thanks for the pic. it makes following the hoses pretty easy. I got the hoses correct into the switchs, need new boots for the actuators and 2 new relays.
According to the guys at zip I don't need the part 975, the stand contact should thread into the hub. I guess I'll find out when the parts arrive.
Thanks again.