Camaro Column to Floor Shift Conversion

[uniq68]

I've got a 1968 Camaro with a powerglide on the column. I would really like to convert it to the horseshoe floor-shift console type. Has anyone done this? Is there a kit out there for this? Any tips for making it look factory? Thanks for any and all tips.

[hambiskit]

Welcome uniq68,
If your going to move your shifter , and you want it to look like the orignal floor shifter , you need to find the 68 console with floor shifter in it, and the steering wheel collar to replace the shift arm on your steering column. I belive that those are cable drives on the floor shifters, and are very easy to install. I am sure that if you can't find one in Sarasota, that you will in Tampa, just check with your GM parts dealers.

[pro70z28]

Originally posted by uniq68
I've got a 1968 Camaro with a powerglide on the column. I would really like to convert it to the horseshoe floor-shift console type. Has anyone done this? Is there a kit out there for this? Any tips for making it look factory? Thanks for any and all tips.

I doubt there are any conversions since it was a factory combination, although you can find individual after market parts from places like www.classicindustries.com and D & R Classic Automotive. I don't have D&R's web. but their Ph. # is 1-800-472-6952. Best bet (If you can still find it) would be to get what you need from a donor Camaro with the combination you are after.
You may get lucky with a GM dealer that still has NOS, but the parts you are looking for are out of production.

[Don Shillady]

Just using an old thread that is close to my question rather than start a new thread. Today I picked up a steering column from a '82 Camaro for a price much lower than an Ididit column and I was able to replace the "no key lock" with a new cylinder and key for only $10. I even found out that Auto Zone will loan you the necessary tools for just a $15 deposit. So anyway I want to use the Camaro column in my '29 Ford roadster with a Loktar floor shifter on my 700R4. When I got the column apart I found there is a locking mechanism in which a spring-loaded pin shoves up between notches on a plate under the steering wheel. Since I want to have a floor shift, the Camaro column seems close to what I want and I want to keep that locking feature (assuming I can sort out all the pig tail wires). The lock depends on a lever with a grommet at the base of the column and probably is activated by the Camaro shifter in "Park". Perhaps some one out there has adapted such a column to a Loktar shifter? The question is how to pull that lever only when the shifter is in "Park". I do not have the Loktar shifter yet, maybe it would be clear if I could look at the typical Loktar shifter. I have seen pictures of Loktar floor shifts with adjustable rods, but so far I cannot picture how to link to that lever to lock the steering only in "PARK". Anybody out there with an '82 Camaro who can tell me what the installation looks like on the original setup?

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

[Don Shillady]

Thanks csf03716. I would like to keep this thread going a bit longer because today I replaced the (broken/cracked) turn signal mechanism and sanded the outside of the column followed by some spraycan black enamel (on a Ford body when in doubt paint it black). So far I have replaced all the major parts with new parts for a total of about $85 which is a lot less than an Ididit column AND this column has a mounting plate welded at the bottom for a firewall mount. However, the "lever" (rack?) at the bottom must be turned to a certain position to allow the locking mechanism to operate and of course when running, the steering has to be free. It still looks like some relationship to "PARK" position must be made to kick in the locking pin. I am encouraged that the new turn signal plate had the complete wiring pigtail and a long connector (available from Auto Zone while NAPA said they did not have that part; Auto Zone is starting to look pretty good for stuff like this). In addition I see that Speedway has a kit of connectors for GM columns. It looks like there is a dimmer resistor near the bottom of the column but since I don't have a horn button yet, I wonder how the dimmer would be turned. I can live without the dimmer as long as I have the turn signals and the locking mechanism. If I get a fiberglass body I can keep the dash black so the column will match OK. Still there must be somebondy on the Forum who has adapted a GM column to a restorod? The bottom line is that I want to end up with a Loktar shifter that looks a little like the original Model-A stick and a floor-mounted parking brake but still be able to use the steering lock. Soooo, how can I hook the "rack-lever" to the shifter so it only changes position when in PARK? The whole idea of going with a SBC is to make use of all the gadgets developed in the street rod industry so I can be mostly an assembler. I know that is not very innovative but I have my hands full building the whole car so I wonder if there is already a kit somewhere for this problem? I guess if I get no further suggestions from this Forum, I will try calling the Loktar folks and maybe they already have this solved? Yes I know thieves can easily pull out the cylinder, but still I think this locking mechanism is better than a key in the dashboard which can be hot-wired easily by just reaching under the dash. Suggestions? Comments?

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

[1stGenCamaro]

I dont know too much about the Lokar kits or whatnot but I do have an 82 camaro and as such I do see where you are coming from. I however, have not taken it out, despite dismantling much of the rest of the car etc. I have a manual tranny in it and the only time it locks is when the key is turned off, if the key is turned to on, or start the wheel becomes free. Another thing about those such columns, they are very easy to break into, no hot wiring necessary, all the thieves do is bust of the plastic by where the turn signal is and turn the ignition with a screwdriver from the signal switch side (opposite side of the column) and no key or wires are necessary, she starts right up! Anyhow, I thought the locking was in the ignition somewhere, not at the bottom of the column having to deal with the shifter cables and being in Park, considering that my cousin also has a third gen camaro with an automatic and can have it in park and turn the wheel...so if this helped in any way I would be glad, if not then sorry, good luck with the install!

[1stGenCamaro]

OH, and back to the original point of this thread, I have a 67 camaro that was a column shift and I am converting it to a manual 6 speed with a T-56. Considering that I do not need any kickdown cables, or real linkage other than a hole in the transmission tunnel, I don't have any personal experience with kits, however, as suggested previously take a look at what you can get from a donor car, or just "look" at it and get an idea of what you need. It really helps when you are trying to find the parts you need when you can visualize exactly what they look like. I am sure that someone offers the linkage such as classic industries or perhaps Lokar, maybe a restoration business or reproduction parts source could have what you need.

As for making it look original, no problem. First off..you're gonna have to be okay with cutting your transmission tunnel, which I am sure you have no qualms about. There are templates out there that allow you to make sure you know exactly how much to cut. Secondly you will need a console, good condition consoles are not too cheap, especially if they had the gauges, they are often cracked or repaired already and do not come with all the parts, or they are very worn. The factory crinkle look is hard to reproduce if its too worn, so its worth finding one in good shape, you will save yourself the time and money of refinishing a poor one. You will need mounting plates that often do not come with a console because it is assumed that the buyer already had a console or something of that sort. That is often overlooked, as well as the shifter plate itself, which houses the shifter and the gear letters etc. The ashtray is also often overlooked so dont forget about that when buying. They are often sold on ebay or you can find them on www.camaros.net sometimes, as well as put up a wanted ad too. Also note that the 67 and 68 had different consoles and the 69 was much different than both years. SO, when buying, an actual 68 will be slightly different but not that much.

And also noted before, you can either get a new column from a console shifted or manual car, which isnt all that rare, or replace the collar. Hope I was of some help at all, good luck and have fun.

[Don Shillady]

1stGenCamaro, Thanks very much for your reply. The column does have the word "LOCK" at the key for the extreme position so it is helpful to know how your Camaro works. I had a '93 LeBaron which had a very similar column and was stolen and I had to start it with a screwdriver for a week or two after it was recovered. However, the "lever/rack" at the bottom of the column has a rubber grommet so it must be connected to something. It is hard to visualize the setup just by wrestling it on the garage floor but I am sure it will or will not lock depending on the position of the rack/lever so maybe it is spring loaded somehow. I know I am bordering on asking dumb questions, but I am thrashing around just trying to get the car built somehow in a reasonable way. On the Camaro the lever/rack would be in a place before the universal joint and the D-shaft so it may be hard to see even on a lift, but because I need to know I would ask anyone who has an '82 or similar Camaro what the heck is connected to that grommet down at the bottom of the firewall?

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

[brianrupnow]

Hi Don---Now that we have totally hijacked the young fellows post, you are covering some interesting territory. I have a Chevy tilt column with a built in column shift, which I am not real crazy about. It is not installed in the roadster pickup yet, but I will probably be starting that this coming week. I too would like to use something like a Lokar floor shifter, but as far as the steering wheel lock is concerned, I don't care. The thing that I would like to know is, how difficult is it to remove the column shifter from a G.M. column, and do something to correct the esthetics so that a big hole isn't left in the side of the steering column. Also, this Chevy column is huge in the area that a column drop would normally go on a 2 or 2 1/2" plain column. I don't want to go out and buy another column. so will have to resolve these issues in the coming weeks.

[1stGenCamaro]

Don, when I go back home again in the next while I will be sure to get that specific car on a hoist ( I have to replace a blown frost plug behind the bellhousing...!) and take a look at the bottom of the column and whatnot to see if it is connected to something or if my manual car has such a thing. It should be easier to see once I have the transmission out...I knew I shoulda replaced those old plugs BEFORE I rebuilt that damn thing. My cousin should also be home and I can look at his car to see if there are any differences in that area. Hopefully I can find what you are looking for and see if it is connected to a lever or linkage and maybe even get some numbers from it. Also, sorry for hijacking the thread!

[brianrupnow]

Don---I may have the answer to your question. The tilt column that I have has a shifter mounted on the column, and at the end of the column, there is a lever that sticks out thru the side of the column housing. There is a rod which goes from the grommet in that lever, directly to the lever on the side of a turbo 350 which shifts the gears. The shift lever must be in the park position to engage this steering wheel lock pin which you are talking about. (there also is what appears to be a nuetral safety switch mounted about 2/3 of the way down the column, which is activated by the rotating of the inner housing when moving the shift lever. I would be willing to bet that if the column you have is out of a car with a floor shift automatic, the column still has all of the same internal mechanism, but no gear shift lever. Since the lever on the side of the transmission is still going to swing thru the same arc even if it is activated by a floor shift, I would think that the rod which would normally shift the tranny from a column mounted shifter is still used. This would mean that the transmission lever is actually moved by the Lokar floor mounted shifter,but that the rod I am talking about acts as a slave unit to move the mechanism inside your steering column.

[lt1s10]

Don, do you steering column have the shifter on it or is it a floor shift column?

brianrupnow, you gonna have to buy yourself a collar off of a floor shift column or repair the hole with dondo. changing the column is done everyday but if you don't know how its not easy. i really don't know if you can do it or not. if you can put a turn signal sw. in then you can do this.

[Don Shillady]

Well the thread was dormant for over two weeks and close to my problem so I don't think I hijacked it much. Anyway I can answer Brian's question and I am surprised to be able to help him in any way since he is usually way ahead of me. I finally got my brake lines double flared and soon will have a 3.55 rear to go with my new 700R4 trans, so maybe in a year of so I can drive up and visit Brian. Well anyway to answer his question, Speedway makes a nice sleeve to cover the hole in the column when you remove the column shifter: PN 910-32600, $21.95 as well as a wiring pigtail kit PN 910-64039, $29.95. That is pertinant to the original thread topic of converting a column to a floor shift. However, I am not sure whether the sleeve removes the tilt ability of the column, but if it is too long maybe it can be trimmed to cover the hole without covering the tilt joint? My column does not have the tilt feature, but then again I don't have the column shifter either so no need to cover a hole there. Thanks again to 1stGenCamaro for offering to look at his column, but if he has a stick shift the column may not be the same as the automatic version???? On my old '93 LeBaron with a similar column lock I had to put the shifter into park before the starter could be used and it looks to me that that that lever at the bottom of the Camaro column must hook into the shifter somehow. My next move will be to have a chat with the folks at Lokar. Maybe the automatic shifter of 1stGenCamaro's friend is the thing to look at?? I have enjoyed Brian's pictures of his hood and deuce shell as well as the neat roll pan he worked out! Maybe with some experts tuned in I can now ask a really dumb question. I did not mark the column when I took off the wheel and the turn-signal return plate and now I wonder how to reorient the return plate relative to the center position of the wheel. I haven't messed with a steering wheel since my old '47 Ford back in the '50s so I just assumed I could reposition the wheel on the splines when I buy a new wheel and orient it according to the position of the front wheels, BUT if I position the return plate wrong I will also have to take the whole top of the column off again when I orient the wheel?? The very helpful guy at AUTO ZONE said that the signal return plate only goes in one way but so far I don't see how, I should have marked the spline position with a marking pen before I took it off. So Brian when you get around to it make sure you mark the spline position of both the wheel and the position of the splined turn-signal return disk as well. Maybe I am overlooking something simple, but I do not know how to get the signal-return plate oriented. Maybe there is no problem and all I have to worry about is making sure the wheels are straight and the steering wheel is straight when I hook up the d-shaft to the Vega box. Any helpful comments will be greatly appreciated even though this is surely a dumb question!

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

[Don Shillady]

Brian, Thanks very much, your information is the best so far. However, I checked with the Lokar folks today and they say they do not support that lever in any way. If you plan to use your present column with the Lokar shifter on the floor you will have the same question which is how to separately move the lever to and from what used to be the PARK position to lock/unlock the column OR even to keep it unlocked all the time. Maybe it is possible to put a slave rod from the Lokar shift rods to the column lever and that is the logical solution but it remains to be seen how much room there is for the rod under the A floor and what shape the rod needs to be. That probably can only be worked out with the trans and the column in the car. Keep in touch as to what you decide to do. Since the A floor is flat and the column lever extends below the floor it may be possible to just attach a rod with a few set screw collars between the end of the Lokar rod and the grommet hole? Since you are a very innovative fellow and the Speedway sleeve will allow you to remove the side shifter and cover the hole maybe you will go ahead and solve this problem and send me a picture? I guess I will go ahead and put the column back together with the new parts and locate the signal return plate as best I can and then hope a slave rod can be worked out to maintain the locking feature along with the Lokar floor shift. As far as the solution is concerned, all that is needed is a small block of metal (steel for strength) with two holes drilled the size of the Lokar shift rod and the slave rod and with a threaded set screw (1/4" hex bolt for a way to get a wrench on it to tighten it good) for each rod and then attach the slave rod to the Lokar rod and to the shift lever at the other end. If something like a header pipe is in the way it might be possible to put a bend in the slave rod to get around it. Let me know what you find.

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

[brianrupnow]

Don---take a really close look at the internal spline on that metal disc with the u-shaped holes in it. I just took mine apart, and there is one cog missing on the internal spline, and one slot missing on the column shaft. That means that you can't reassemble it out of phase, as there is only one way that it will go on.