I sent a PM to Jim Shea, he suggested I post the question here. I bought a tilt-tele unit from another forum member, and I would like to have it gone through, replace bushings, and any other worn parts, and possibly paint it a different color.

Does anyone know of an individual or company that performs this service?

 

Wow, 60 views and no responses? I know others are doing something, tilt-tele are one of the most popular options.

I know I'm fairly new here, so will try not to take it personal!

OK, so I'll try to establish some street cred here by contributing to my own thread. I got busy calling, e-mailing, searching and here's what I found

This is what I sent out:
I just bought a used tilt-tele unit from a 74 corvette to go into my 72 corvette, I understand this is a direct bolt on. Before I do that, I would like someone to go through the unit, replace the bushings, and repair, replace, rebuild, refurbish, the unit before I install it. The unit is currently black, I would also like it to be repainted in light saddle.

I am only going to post the companies I found that had decent reviews, that I had either talked with or received info from, and that I felt comfortable that they would do a good job.

www.gmtiltsteeringcolumn.com
I can rebuild your column, $150 plus parts. I don't paint specific colors.
Thanks.

Thank you for visiting and contacting us through http://www.steeringcolumnservices.com. We provide steering column parts and repair information worldwide.
We would be happy to do that for you. The cost to overhaul the column is $165 plus parts and shipping. Typically, it will need a few bearings and plastic insulators that dry out. We would receive it, tear it down and provide you with an itemized estimate of repairs before commensing any work. Our best guess estimate (if the column is complete) would put a total cost between $325 & $475. There is really no way to get more specific until we see it.
We do not refinish or paint the column so that aspect would be left to you.
Shipping costs typically range around $30-45 from Houston to St George UT. The MOST IMPORTANT thing is how you pack the column. Too often we see columns arrive damaged during shipping causing more expense to you and questionable issues when received on both ends (who broke what and when). We recommend you double box the column and ship it without the steering wheel. Pack it in bubble wrap in a long box and then pack that box inside another box with packing peanuts or more bubble wrap—especially the ends of the column. The last thing you want is for it to be dropped on one end and have the steering tube collapsed.
We hope this helps

Since the two above did not offer repainting, I came down to two possible results

http://dynamiccorvettes.com/
Dynamic Corvettes, Saginaw, Michigan
$550 + parts, includes repainting

http://corvettecolumns.com/69-76rebuilds.htm
Corvette Columns, Southlake, Texas
$365 to rebuild internals. Levers, paints, extra


I ended up going with the last one, Corvette Columns, because he is closer, and I just liked the things he will do during the rebuild, but I would feel totally comfortable with either Dynamic Corvettes, or Corvette Columns. I talked with both of them on the phone, and they obviously know their stuff, and are passionate about the business.

 

Check your PM.

 

Hey I am sending my column out to Corvette Columns this week. Did you end up using them?? How did the column look? I told him i wanted it painted black because was going to be show peice so the quality needed to be exceptional. He says hes the cream of the crop so just trying to get some insight on how you made out?? Let me know soon thanks man

 

I did and was extremely happy. He totally went through the unit I sent him, repainted it the color I needed, and it was packaged extremely well when he shipped it back, with all the parts and instructions needed. You will be very happy with his work. He even re-keyed it to my existing keys. Column works flawlessly, and looks beautiful.

 

I have known Steve Snow of Dynamic Corvettes here in Saginaw, Michigan for many years. I first met Steve when he did some cosmetic paint work on my 1975 Vert back in 1982. I knew that his shop did overall work on all years of Corvettes. I did not know that he would tackle steering column rebuilds. From my experience, I would say that his company would do good work on any Vette project.
Jim

 

Excellent thank you for the Input guys much appreciated. Just sent out my column today. Good luck on your builds

 

Just a Heads up and to eveyone else reading this.... I sent my 75 Tilt/Tele column to corvettecolumns.com Larry was the owners name, Very nice guy. I bought all new parts from ecklers, Bearings, horn parts, hub, hazard, lock cylinder and key, ignition switch, and turn signal switch, all were GM original or the best availible, Ieven disassembled the column half way and sandblasted all the metal parts that needed painting, So i get a call from Larry (corvettecolumns.com) Saying i needed this and that etc etc... i say ok fine, now he originally told me $165 to rebuild plus shipping, And I specifically told him this car is going to be a top of the line pro-tour with 100K in it it needs to be perfect!!! YEA yea it will be like new blah blah he says, So all said and done total bill came to $408..how IDK... So iget the column back it was well packed in a Crate/Box and bolted down. At first glance it looks good. I unbolt it i notice the firewall Seal is brand new (cool!!) i take the Seal off and no paint or primer or anything just rusted bare metal with some type of glue to hold the seal on, ok fine i throw a coat of eastwood satin on it all set, now at this point its still in the crate bolted down, i bolt on the wheel and TELE tighten down the wheel and the wheel rocks back and forth like a crab fishing boat in a hurricane, up down left and right, So i Call Larry he says " **** steve idk man i changed everything in there blah blah etc etc.. Finally he says send it back ill pay shipping, Cost me $74 to ship to him he gets it and says the, main shaft and tele shaft are worn...Ok?? Why didnt you see this the first time?? Says to me it wasnt like that when i put it in the crate (LIE) Did u even bolt a steering wheel on it? Yes it was fine (LIE) wants another $100 bucks to put a used shaft in it to make it "slightly" tighter....I said i paid you once for this how about the $75 i spent to ship it u apply that amount, ?? " Oh now its costing me money"!! I have to ship it thats 80 bucks blah starts going off about none of it is his fault at all.. LOL!! So point of my story Do not use this man... he comes across great, if he screws up your column its on you not him!!! Too bad really he seemed like a descent dude, He should advertise (Columns may be ok upon return) no way to tell.

 

Flivver61- That post was in no way against your recomendations Sir at all, i just had a bad experience with him is all

 

I used Larry at Corvette Columns, and it looks good and feels tight. I have not driven the car yet, so the verdict is still in. He had lots of difficulty getting it painted right, due to years of Armorall, it took him multiple attempts. He was very good on the phone and seemed honest. I found nothing that looked like he didn't do a good job, but I guess time will tell.

 

Sorry you had a bad experience. My column has been intalled over a year now. Everything is nice and tight, the paint finish is great, he even keyed it to match my doors. I couldn't be happier.

 

when rebuilding a column, what should you replace?

Only want to do this once

 

I bought a used TT unit from another member and had it shipped to larry. I just told him to go though it and replace anything that needed replacing, I didnt want to have to go back into it later. He raeplaced several parts, plus I went with all new levers so it would all look nice and new

 

I agree man very nice man very knowledgeable also, Just kinda pissed he left me hanging with a floppy wheel, and offered no solution but more money that may or may not fix it, I personally think it was never checked just shipped theres no way anyone wouldnt notice the wheel falling off lol. Good luck man

 

Upper and lower bearings, turn signal switch, maybe a hub, lock cylinder with key, and any horn contact peices, thge rest is pretty much external. Ecklers sell most parts for columns that are availible. Some stuff you just cant buy anymore, Espicially Tilt/Tele columns. Good luck man

 

I downloaded Jim Shea's paper on the TT column from this post. I didn't read the entire document but it didn't take reading the whole thing to realize I didn't want to attempt the job myself if I ever need it done.

 

Thanks for that. Going to give it a good read. Then buy some parts.

Gives me something to do when i get annoyed striping my paint back to bare.

 

The lower bearing, the one at the end of the steering column, can be replaced by you. After reading Jim Shea's postings, I did it myself. This was on my 70. I think this car had never been driven in salt, but nevertheless, the lower bearing was badly corroded. I went to the local hardware store and bought a large diameter copper tube/pipe ...of the correct dimensions..and with a hammer pounded my new bearing into place. A one foot piece of this copper pipe cost $30!!

I'll re-read the previous posts...to do everything correct, I guess I should replace the upper bearing and other parts.

Good thread.

 

I attempted it. Took me a lot longer than I expected, and I didn't take it all the way down. I did manage to replace the upper and lower bearings and to tighten the star bolts down a bit. I got two of them out to put in loctite. PITA. I would have been happy to pay someone a few hundred in labor to get it done right and in a reasonable amount of time.

Now, having said all that, and having been through it once...

...the upper bearing isn't TOO terrible to do. Doing it the first time might be hell, but doing it again wouldn't be nearly as bad.

Here's my thread from when I needed help:

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...eassembly.html

 

I no this is and old thread. but I bought a rebuilt tilt and telescope steering column from Don Krebs and it looks


just like it came off the gm shelf in 1971. and the color match is perfect. he does great work. and he also does seat belts. just thought I would pass in on to others.