Thread: Steering Column End Fittings

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I was told my steering column is out of an 80's era Chevette. The fitting in the bottom of the column is plugged into a string of u-joints going forward to a rack and pinion gear, and is held by a single thru bolt at the 1st u-joint. Can't see it well enuf to tell what configuration it has. The column stands too tall in the car, and I feel like a Praying Mantis driving down the street. Now I know what a Harley chopper rider feels like with the high handlebars. :-)

Seriously, I'm planning a trip to the auto wreckers soon, to look for a shorter column with tilt, etc., and need to know what end fitting to look for. I thought they were all splined, but now I'm hearing about square, double D, etc. I'd like to find one that has Chevy auto shift lever that'll work with my 350 tranny, wipers, flashers, etc. If I find one that looks good, but is too long, can they be cut ??

What words of wisdom can you-all offer in what to look for, what to avoid, etc. ?? Thanks......

Lar.

What is your column in? If it is in a model A, I don't think there is enough room to use a rigid connection between the lever at the end of the column and the shift mechanism on a turbo 350.
I do know that its possible to shorten the columns that don't have a column shifter mounted on them, fairly easily. The GM columns that have a shifter attached are probably more difficult.
What are you using for a shifter right now?----To get rid of the "praying mantis effect" can you go to a steering wheel with a shallower dish (offset), to move the wheel farther away from your body without messing with the steering column?

Mid 70's Chevy vans have reasonably short columns, but they may still be too long.

I scrounged and installed a column shift/tilt unit from a 77 Chevy Van in my 37 Dodge.

It was still too long, so I shortened it shift column and all. It wasn't too bad. Unfortunatly I did it a couple of years ago and don't recall exactly what was involved.

The column will be going into my Model A. The one that's in there has a column shift with a solid linkage to the transmission, but the shift quadrant with detents has been chopped out of it, so you just hafta feel for gears. The workmanship on the whole car is very rough, and I'm trying to get the most urgent things done 1st, then will aim for pretty. What fitting can I expect on the bottom of that Chevette column ?? Double D ?? I guess I'll go out to the wrecking yard and look at Chevy vans.........but might just wait till it cools off a bit, here in Furnace Springs. I also do plan on a flatter steering wheel, with a little more diameter than the current 12" one. On Monday morning the car goes into the front end shop to see about new A arm bushings in the Chevette front end. I think the ball joints are OK, but steering is very erratic. What Fun ! ! !

Lar.

look at some of the GM fwd cars/vans, they are short & some use a cable to shift the trans. the one i have has no shifter & is from a (late 80's)sunbird & it measures about 28 inches from the steering wheel to the end of the double D shaft...joe

Thanks. I'll take a look.

Lar.

After going with junkyard columns and aftermarket columns, I got to recommend the aftermarket columns. Sure they cost a little more than what you can get one at a junk yard for but, you can get any length you want as well as whatever shaft you need to hook up to your Ujoints. Plus they don't have that junkyard modified look to them when your done. I think you can find them for a little over $200.00 bucks and with that you get all new bearings and switches. I think the last junkyard column I got I paid $75.00 bucks for then ended up modifying it and replacing the turn signal switch to get the lights to work right. Think I ended up with almost $200.00 bucks in it when I got finished. That was when I started buying new aftermarket columns. Just wanted to give you one more option.

While you're at the junkyard, take a look at some of the Ford columns.
We found one in a Merc wagon, circa late 70's - early to mid 80's or so.
It was a very clean column, with tilt, turn signal and key.
No shifter on this one, but we've seen them with column shift.

The column ended up in a 1938 Morris 12 - similar to an Anglia which was a popular drag race car.

Saturday, I spotted two GM column shift columns at a garage sale complete with key, tilt and turn signal.
They struck me as being about 30 - 34" long overall including steering wheel that they were standing on.
I'm guessing mid-late 70's and maybe into the 80's.

Originally posted by DennyW
Where did you get yours for 200.00 ?

Speedway has a basic no-frills steering column for $119.95 - 30" long.
$139.95 for custom length.

go here:
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/xq/asp...qx/Product.htm


Ididit's are $299. for raw steel.
30" length.
Tilt, turn signal floor shift model.

Go here:
http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerc...39&prmenbr=361

Here's a no frills aluminum jacket, sealed ball bearing DIY column with drop for under $30.

U-joint & wheel & wheel adapter not included.

36" long which works well in Model A and 32 roadsters.

Also check E-bay sometimes you can get a deal on there for aftermarket columns. The last one I purchased was from Ebay.

Originally posted by DennyW
Thanks guys. I'm looking for a similer type like the 34 chevy truck has. I have seen some in the past from an older ford truck. I don't need signal light switch, or key switch on the column. I was thinking maybe cutting my original, and redoing it while changing the setup at the bottom. I have the old style signal switch that bolts to the column, and the key switch will remain in the dash. Not sure about tilt. I was thinking using a slide adjustment like some of the imports, and using a sliding steering shaft. Thanks for the info though, I keep looking trying to figure what, and which way to go. The thought is to make it look like original.

The sliding steering shaft is what the Australian guys have to use.
Their cars are built to a pretty strict standard with inspections at various points of construction.

I'm not sure you weighed in on the discussion on one of Brianrupnow's roadster building post where we talked about steering columns.
Pretty sure I posted several pics of the steering column as well as text about it's construction.

If you can't find it here, it's a complete article with several pics.

Go to :
http://www.fsra.org/

Click on site map and look through the table of contents for each issue.