Just picked up a 71 2wd Blazer, need interchange info column
 

Hi
I just picked up a 71 2wd blazer, 350 350 ps pdb. The steering column is shot, lots of slop top and bottom. What years will work to replace it? It has a floor shifter so I don't need a column shifter. I don't need a tilt or anything fancy.

Re: Just picked up a 71 2wd Blazer, need interchange info column
 

congrats! and welcome tro the board.. send pics!!!

Re: Just picked up a 71 2wd Blazer, need interchange info column
 

It was hit in the right front, I started pulling it out, got the new fender and tailgate today along with one rocker, had a lot of bad work done to it-trans fluid in the master cylinder, wiring messed up, shifter hooked up wrong, just been going through it.

Re: Just picked up a 71 2wd Blazer, need interchange info column
 

I am waiting on body bushings, they are shot and I can't get the fenders or rockers on until it is lined up better.

Re: Just picked up a 71 2wd Blazer, need interchange info column
 

Congrats....
You could just replace the bearings, not real hard of a job, parts should be available. Drop down in the classified, i think i saw some for sale down there, same column as pickup

Re: Just picked up a 71 2wd Blazer, need interchange info column
 

I agree with jaros, just rebuild that one. You can buy another used one from a 67-72 Chevy pickup/blazer/panel/suburban, but it's still a 40 year old steering column.

Re: Just picked up a 71 2wd Blazer, need interchange info column
 

I have never replaced the bearings in a column, how is it done? There is lots of slop on the top one, and on the bottom, a bushing or something slides out, I pushed it back in. Where do you get the bearings?

Re: Just picked up a 71 2wd Blazer, need interchange info column
 

It sounds like you are simply missing the spring at the bottom. Let me see if I can find a picture.

Edit: here's a couple

Re: Just picked up a 71 2wd Blazer, need interchange info column
 

Good answer with pics, wes probably has the bearings. Thats where i got mine for a tilt column. And, they are harder to find

Thats what is great about this forum, somebody has done it, and can talk you through the rebuild

I was just on another forum, and the answer to his question was "RTFNM". You wont get that response here.....

Re: Just picked up a 71 2wd Blazer, need interchange info column
 

Thanks for the replies, guys. Where can I get the upper bearing?