van tilt help
 

What do i have to do to convert a van tilt to work in my truck. Somebody told me that i need to cut off part of the shaft, and swap wiring. can i use the harness out of my old straight column or do i need to use something else

Thanks
David

Don't cut the shaft, collapse it with a hammer.

The wiring might just plug in, if not, GM sells an adapter for like 3 bucks that makes it a plug in deal. I've got one in the garage if you need pictures of it. It depends on which shape of connector your van column has.

Tx, Where do i collapse it? Also, this tilt, the wiring is cut, so i have no plug. what do you think i should do?

Thanks
David

Is what Tx Firefighter means is,
the shaft that goes between the steering box and column shaft needs to be shortened.
You can do this by removing it (The shaft) and hitting it on the end with a large hammer.
These shafts were designed to collaps in the event of an accident anyway. There is a small plastic peice in there keeping it from sliding easily.

Darren

Darren is correct.

I found a tilt steering in a 81 chevy van and put it in my 72 c-10. I didn't cut or knock anything off. As far as your wiring I was able to splice mine together using the old u-shaped connector off of my old column. The van tilt column had a flat connector and the one you have to buy just plugs the flat end into a ushaped connector. The wires are the same color so you can just cut the u-shaped connector out of your old steering column and and wire it into the end of the wires on your van tilt. Then they'll be able to plug together!!!:D

Thanks guys for all the help. Just to double check, i need to install my column, and then hit it with a hammer at the south end (how much do i need to shrink it) And then cut off the u connector on my old column and splice in into the van's wires that are already there?

Thanks again
David

The neutral saftey switch needs to be moved up too. Do a search for that. I'm about to do one myself next week.

Hey Tx Firefighter, if it's a van column the Neutral Safety needs to be moved Down as they are already too high!:) Also do not install the column and try to collapse the shaft collapse it FIRST, then install the column.:D

The Van tilt is 2 1/2" longer than the truck tilt.

Here is a link. Click on Magazine tech articles, tilt will be first article.

Jim

http://www.geocities.com/sshevnock/home.html

Great article - thanks for the link Jim.

THanks guys, i am well on my way to getting back on the road. One other question, on my van tilt, i have a couple of wires that i don't have on my old column, one (set) of three really small diameter wires that are clumped together and one single grey wire. What do i do with those?

Thanks again for the help

David

The gry wire is the power to the shift indicator light. Put a femail spade connector on there nad plug it into the terminal on your fusebox labeled lights.

The three small wires are for cruise control.

Jim

While we are on the subject of van tilts - if I'm going to be using a van auto tilt a 4 speed truck - am I correct that I don't need to worry about the neutral switch?

my 71 that orginally had a 4 speed has a green harness that ran directly from the trans to under the dash, so i think you're right, just ditch the switch.

Thanks to all who helped me through this i'll post some pics when i get it done.

david

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=dremel+column

Here is the thread for the N/S switch to relocate it.

Jack you are correct. :D

one more question, this is my van tilt next to my old column, is there supposed to be that much difference in length, or am i missing something?

Thanks
David

Yes. WES www.ClassicHeartbeat.com

I slid my column through my firewall and the gear shift lever against the lower dash, and it's not even close to as long as it needs to be, maybe 12-18 inches too short, am i missing a part, or did i do something wrong?

DAvid

pictures of problems

Inside is as far "in" as it can go

And it seems the shaft is too short

Griesel72,

You will need to remove the steering shaft extension from your old one, shorten it 2 1/2" and install it onto the Van tilt shaft after you remove the flange.

Recheck the photo that has the extension shaft circled.


Jim

Jim,

I think this is about the 10th time you have saved me @ss. thanks for the help

David