L Holmes

I purchased this from a member of this forum a year or so back and had it rebuilt and painted for installation in my 70 vette but it did not fit. I got another one that did fit but was wondering which year this one fits so I can sell it and recover some of my $$. It looks similar to the one that fits my 70 & it does NOT have the bulge on the side some of the later mods had. Any help is appreciated.

blu73

Try going here. Lots of good info. http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/?page_id=4

L Holmes

Good info but I dont see what I need. Maybe 63 thru 68? Help me out guys..

Duke94

Can't be 63-68 as it looks to have the steering column lock which didn't start to 69 I believe. What didn't fit?

Gary

Jim Shea

That is a late 1969 through 1976 C3 Corvette tilt & telescoping steering column. It should fit any of the above years. The backdrive lever on the lower end is bent and the plate that is welded on the lower end of the column jacket appears to be bent as well.

The C3 steering column(s) are quite unique so there are no other cars that your steering column could have been from.

I would like to know what didn't fit. (Unless it was the bent lower lever or plate.)

Jim

L Holmes

Jim: I had a local car restoration shop installing the steering column so I cant remember exactly what he said but I know he said it wasnt even close to fitting. AND the other one I bought after fit like a glove. I will talk to him and get more details and post the info. This mechanic is VERY good and he really knows these old cars inside and out.
Like I said I want to sell it but wanted to be sure what to tell potential buyers I had.

L Holmes

Jim: My mechanic said that when the welded plate was flush with the fire wall the 2 bolt holes on the upper coulmn were not lined up as they should have been. Thats "how" is didnt fit. Currious aye?

snoopykissedlucy

Are selling this gem? I am interested....I have a 1976 Vette that needs a new column.

Send me a PM with price...please!

L Holmes

Yes I will sell it I just wanted to get some confirmation on what years its for first. Apparently the plate at the bottom will need to be replaced or straightened from what Jim is saying. We thought the bend in the plate was supposed to be there as it looked like it was made that way but I guess we were wrong..

PM sent..

Jim Shea

Here is a drawing of a 1969 Corvette T&T column with a view looking straight down on the steering column. The reason that I know that it is a 1969 steering column is because it has a clamp on the steering shaft just below the lower bearing. Only the 1969 T&T column had the clamp. 1970 through 1976 columns did not have the clamp. Your T&T column will fit all 1969 through 1976 Vettes. However, it just won't be NCRS correct for 1969 without the clamp. So I need to correct my earlier statement concerning the model years.

Also, all of the lengths on the drawing are within 0.080 inch for all 1969 through 1976 Corvette columns.

You can compare the drawing to the picture of the column in the shipping box. The lower plate is definately bent in the shipping box picture. It also seems that the backdrive lever is definately bent and might be further rearward (toward the driver) than the one in the drawing.



Jim

L Holmes

Thank you Jim. I guess the plate can be straightened or replaced?

69vette19467

What defines a "late 1969" T&T column? I had mine apart recently for repairs. Of the replacement parts that I bought, the only inconsistency was the Dash Seal (Item 65 in your exploded view). The rep't was a little over an inch shorter than the original. Also, mine does have the clamp that you described. My 69 was built in Nov of 68.

Jim Shea

1969 early T&T column had a bowl (right next to the instrument cluster) that you could see rotate when you shifted into PARK with an automatic trans or into REVERSE with a manual shift. There is a cable from the transmission that connects to a lever sticking out from the side of the steering column out under the hood. When the cable moved the lever, you could see the bowl rotate inside the car. Later in 1969 a plastic shroud was added over the bowl. That shroud was stationary so you couldn't see the bowl rotate.

From the pictures it appears that L. Holmes T&T column has a plastic bowl cover.
Jim