i'm replacing my ignition cylinder, I have gotten to the lock plate, my question is about the white plastic part on top of the plate. how do you remove it without damaging it ? does it come off with the plate or do you remove it before removing the plate. any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

you already removed the lock plate? your talking about the directional plastic assembly?

 

Or are you trying to remove the lock plate?

 

the plastic piece before the lock plate

 

Interesting. I admit. I have torn apart many columns. Never witnessed that guard. Looking at it. it would appear it has 3 plastic lock taps. you should simply be able to use a pick to release. Then use your lock plate puller to compress the lock plate & remove the steel retainer ring. To expose your Ign lock assembly.

 

ok, so the plastic piece broke on me while trying to get it out. next ?. how do i lock the telescoping steering shaft so i can get locking plate off ?
BTW youve been a big help so far. Thank you.

 

tele column - you can use long narrow flat blade screwdriver carefully pry at slots just enough to get it off. That cover keeps the spring on horn contacts. Without it horn won't stop blowing. You need to either put a small metal pin (old wiper switch pivot pin works good) in bolt hole then with shaft all the way down install lock plate depressor to remove "C"clip. Screw part has to make contact with pin and lock column. If it doesn't shaft will just pull up towards you. They do make a special depressor for tele column with a screw that treads in lock screw hole in shaft. I have seen them never had one. I have: tilted column fully down. Taken depressor apart installed bridge part on shaft with steering wheel nut to basically center and with my hand forced plate forced plate forward enough to remove "C" clip. It will take some effort."C" clip is directional along with lock plate since turn signal canceling cam is held by it. It is possible for shaft to fall forward when plate is removed. To reassemble you really need to able to lock column with tool and install plate with tool. Especially if you have a shaft that won't stay in place. Picture looks like the finer threaded type locking bolt you could try to get allen type screw to use to lock shaft in place. Take locking screw to hardware store see if they can hook you up. If shaft falls down you need to stack every thing up to assemble tighten lock screw tight the pull towards you it might require some shaking to get shaft back where it belongs. There is a cone between upper bearing race and spring that holds shaft up. The plate sits on spring so pulling and pressing and carefully trying to put clip in without the right tools the first couple times can very frustrating.

 

OP - or anyone else that is anticipating going into a tilt/travel column I would order a minimum of 3 plastic pieces, maybe 4. The retainer that the OP and nearly everyone breaks, the cancelling cam and the tower for the horn contact (used selectively).

You could use these GM#'s as references when shopping I'd think:

7808385 retainer, 7849228 cancelling cam, 9768768 tower (selective) and the 9769448 horn wire. There are different horn contact strategies depending on the steering wheel used and horn cap used. Many have been changed through the years so they may not match the years that are cataloged.

A 5/16-18 set screw would be a wise buy also as it allows you to lock the "travel" feature. The wedge needs installed correctly and there are two lengths but I believe I've only ever seen one part #'d for the C4. If you need to buy one you'll need the correct reference #. 7809977 I'm quite sure is correct.

GOOGLE will give you images or Corvette Central when searching the GM#.