55.2-59 Help, a couple questions

[Phungki]

So I’m about 16 hours into the tear down. The project is a 56 GMC with manual transmission.
First thing, how do you get the switch for the headlight out of the dash?
Second thing, what are these three holes in the steering column?

[mongocanfly]

watch this..i think its the right video...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISKchiNB0HI
are those holes where a old column shifter mounted?

[NorCalGal]

Not sure about yours but most headlight switches have a button on the switch that when pushed the whole knob and shaft can be pulled out, once pulled out you can access the collar or nut on the face of the dash and unscrew the collar. Here’s a pic that may help.

[Phungki]

Originally Posted by NorCalGal

Not sure about yours but most headlight switches have a button on the switch that when pushed the whole knob and shaft can be pulled out, once pulled out you can access the collar or nut on the face of the dash and unscrew the collar. Here’s a pic that may help.

Hmm I’ll feel around for that button and see if it’s there. Thank you

[Phungki]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

watch this..i think its the right video...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISKchiNB0HI
are those holes where a old column shifter mounted?

I hope it’s thats simple. I’ll give that a shot.
I’m at a total loss about the holes on the column. There are threads inside on the holes that are side by side so I assume it’s factory. It’s also suppose to be a factory manual shift. Also the column is one piece. Nothing’s moves, so it’s not like the old “three on the tree” in my Grandpas old Oldsmobile lol. I’ll keep searching
Thanks for the vid.
These old trucks are so cool

[NorCalGal]

Here’s the collar

[Phungki]

Originally Posted by NorCalGal

Here’s the collar

Yeah I hope that little button is the ticket? My knob doesn’t have a set screw and there isn’t a nut visible anywhere

[mongocanfly]

if those holes are on top of the column then its for a shifter as in this pic
blue circle shows shifter rod on top of column
red circle shows shifter

[Phungki]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

if those holes are on top of the column then its for a shifter as in this pic
blue circle shows shifter rod on top of column
red circle shows shifter

Hmm I’ll have to see if the column brkt has a hole in it for the shifter. There was something in the column on the other side of the firewall. No clue what it was for.

[mongocanfly]

shifter box

[Phungki]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

shifter box

Alrighty then. Thank you. I’m planning on auto on the floor and reusing the column so I’ll fill the holes.
Mystery solved.
Thank you all

[mick53]

Yep holes for a 3 on the tree. There are also a couple of slots on the lower part of the column that I welded shut to keep dirt out.The button should be there for the switch, Sometimes you have to mess with it for a while. Then the nut will screw off. Mine has a couple of little slots in it. You can make a little spanner wrench or 2 flat screwdrivers and a pair of pliers.

[dsraven]

---headlight switch-there will be the little button. sometimes you have to push the plunger (switch on/off plunger) for the switch in and out a few times to get it to release. just work at it a bit and it will come.
---column-holes are for the column shifter. the assembly on the other side of the column is the shifter unit. there would have been a rod/shaft that connected to the shifter and went through a bushing set up on the column, like a pillow block, to steady the rod and keep it oriented to the shifter. the rod would have been like a 1/2" bar which exited the floor above the column and connected to that box on the column you show in the pics. from there linkage would have connected to the transmission via 2 adjustable rods. these trucks have a column that is pressed into the steering box so to remove the column you also need to remove the steering box and steering wheel so you can feed the column through the firewall. the floor grommet may or may not have the extra hole for the shifter rod to go through and connect to the shifter box. if the truck was originally a floor shift and you have the column box on your truck then the column may possibly have been replaced over the years. this could be for a steering box swap due to wear or whatever. if you want to keep the original column but use an updated steering system, like IFS, you can cut the column off above the steering box and grind the double D flat spots on the shaft. you will also need to support the column inner shaft in the outer tube but there are bearings available and there is also a post on the site somewhere showing how to do that along with what bearing will fit the shaft and the outer tube. do you have a plan to do something like that or are you just taking things apart for your build with the intention to assemble back the same way they were?

[dsraven]

check post 6 on this thread for a disassembled and removed column pic with the box attached

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=708463

[dsraven]

check here for a pic of the lower bearing used when shortening the column

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1955-57-Che...d=132979781925

[Phungki]

Originally Posted by dsraven

---headlight switch-there will be the little button. sometimes you have to push the plunger (switch on/off plunger) for the switch in and out a few times to get it to release. just work at it a bit and it will come.
---column-holes are for the column shifter. the assembly on the other side of the column is the shifter unit. there would have been a rod/shaft that connected to the shifter and went through a bushing set up on the column, like a pillow block, to steady the rod and keep it oriented to the shifter. the rod would have been like a 1/2" bar which exited the floor above the column and connected to that box on the column you show in the pics. from there linkage would have connected to the transmission via 2 adjustable rods. these trucks have a column that is pressed into the steering box so to remove the column you also need to remove the steering box and steering wheel so you can feed the column through the firewall. the floor grommet may or may not have the extra hole for the shifter rod to go through and connect to the shifter box. if the truck was originally a floor shift and you have the column box on your truck then the column may possibly have been replaced over the years. this could be for a steering box swap due to wear or whatever. if you want to keep the original column but use an updated steering system, like IFS, you can cut the column off above the steering box and grind the double D flat spots on the shaft. you will also need to support the column inner shaft in the outer tube but there are bearings available and there is also a post on the site somewhere showing how to do that along with what bearing will fit the shaft and the outer tube. do you have a plan to do something like that or are you just taking things apart for your build with the intention to assemble back the same way they were?

Yep got it out this morning. Couldn’t see the button, just had to feel around for it. Came right out and unscrewed easy enough.
So I guess someone at sometime switched from column shift to floor shift and left the shift box attached.

Thanks to all who chimed in with their wisdom.