Rat repair.

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

... anybody got any tips, advice about moving the column forward?? I can gain about 1.5” inside, not sure about the outside.

If it's a stock column, there are a couple of ways to shorten the shaft. The easiest is to buy a Borgeson 3/4 DD coupler or U-joint($$) cut your shaft and remove the appropriate amount and put it back together with the coupler or joint. The cleanest way is to modify it where it collapses in the event of a crash. In the attached photo, there are two thru holes the factory used to create a plastic slip joint. If you remove the shaft from the column, drill out the two holes and press the two parts apart, you'll find a shallow groove about .050" by .500 wide around the 3/4 DD shaft IIRC. It will have the remains of the plastic retainer in it which will need to be cleaned out. Cut 1.5" off the end off the DD shaft and press the two pieces back together using RTV around the grooved areas. You can refill the original holes with Plast-Aid or JB Weld if you like, but the only reason to do so is cosmetic. Either way, the shaft still retains it's collapsible design.

[swamp rat]

Originally Posted by Vic1947

If it's a stock column, there are a couple of ways to shorten the shaft. The easiest is to buy a Borgeson 3/4 DD coupler or U-joint($$) cut your shaft and remove the appropriate amount and put it back together with the coupler or joint. The cleanest way is to modify it where it collapses in the event of a crash. In the attached photo, there are two thru holes the factory used to create a plastic slip joint. If you remove the shaft from the column, drill out the two holes and press the two parts apart, you'll find a shallow groove about .050" by .500 wide around the 3/4 DD shaft IIRC. It will have the remains of the plastic retainer in it which will need to be cleaned out. Cut 1.5" off the end off the DD shaft and press the two pieces back together using RTV around the grooved areas. You can refill the original holes with Plast-Aid or JB Weld if you like, but the only reason to do so is cosmetic. Either way, the shaft still retains it's collapsible design.

This is a pic under the dash its a stock tilt column that I bought from a guy here on this forum, he buys them, rebuilds them and powder coats them black. I only have about 3/4" of space between that thing and the firewall, I have no idea if its removable or what it does, plus I have a column shift automatic..

Its kinda looking like I will be going back to my Grant steering wheel or a starvation diet, i'm leaning towards the Grant.

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

This is a pic under the dash its a stock tilt column that I bought from a guy here on this forum, he buys them, rebuilds them and powder coats them black. I only have about 3/4" of space between that thing and the firewall, I have no idea if its removable or what it does, plus I have a column shift automatic..

Its kinda looking like I will be going back to my Grant steering wheel or a starvation diet, i'm leaning towards the Grant.

It's used for the neutral safety feature and backup lights. A floor shift column doesn't have this switch which is instead mounted on the shifter. So a floor shift column could be shoved further down. The switch is removable, but you lose those functions. I'm not aware of any kits that would relocate it. So as you've already figured out, it's Jenny Craig or a steering wheel with less dish.

[swamp rat]

Originally Posted by Vic1947

It's used for the neutral safety feature and backup lights. A floor shift column doesn't have this switch which is instead mounted on the shifter. So a floor shift column could be shoved further down. The switch is removable, but you lose those functions. I'm not aware of any kits that would relocate it. So as you've already figured out, it's Jenny Craig or a steering wheel with less dish.

LOL! Go figure :/

I’ll look more after work but do you know if there is a wire connection on that little unit? I’m still trying to find the home of the grey wire coming out of my trucks wire harness.

Do you recall a plug on the back of the dash bezel that had what I think was a fiber optic lead hooked to it, it’s a white socket with a thin steel mount on it to attach said fiber optic lead? Can you inlighten me on what it was for? I was thinking the back light on the gear selector but my new tilt column only has electrical wires.

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

LOL! Go figure :/

I’ll look more after work but do you know if there is a wire connection on that little unit? I’m still trying to find the home of the grey wire coming out of my trucks wire harness.

Do you recall a plug on the back of the dash bezel that had what I think was a fiber optic lead hooked to it, it’s a white socket with a thin steel mount on it to attach said fiber optic lead? Can you enlighten me on what it was for? I was thinking the back light on the gear selector but my new tilt column only has electrical wires.

Can't speak to the grey wire... it might be B+ for the dash lights, but I could be wrong. That's what it is on my Painless diagram but don't know if it's the same as the factory color. Column wiring shown below and no grey wires listed.

Typically the fiber optic cable was routed to the ash tray as a light source instead of a bulb.