Originally Posted by Jim Shea

The lever on the lower end of all 1969 thru 1976 Corvette steering columns is a very important part of the General Motors Steering Column/Transmission Shift Interlock System. When GM introduced their locking steering columns on all GM cars in 1969 they were very afraid of lawsuits from people who (by mistake) might turn off their engine and also lock their steering wheel even while the car was still moving forward.

So GM and Saginaw Division designed a system where a gate inside the steering column head was opened when the lower lever was moved to the full UP position. When a manual trans is shifted into REVERSE or a automatic trans is shifted into PARK a cable connected to the transmission pushes the lower lever on the steering column to the full UP position (if it could be viewed from the driver seat, that lever would be at 1 o'clock).

It is important to understand that there are five positions for the ignition switch/ignition key. From full clockwise to full CCW those positions are: START, RUN, OFF, OFF-LOCK, & ACCESSORY.

Regardless if the gate is open or not, the driver is always allowed to just turn the engine OFF. But until the gate is opened, the ignition key cannot be rotated further to OFF-LOCK which would not only will shut the engine off but also would cause the steering wheel to be locked. Also, the ignition key can only be pulled from the lock cylinder in the OFF-LOCK position.

So with the cable not connected and interlock not functioning, it is important to understand that you will be able to shut off your engine and also lock your steering wheel even while your Vette is moving.

Jim

Originally Posted by GlennT73

Gusto, can't thank you enough. I read the post went to the car, saw the problem and corrected it all within the last 7 min. Peace and good health friend. GlennT73