researching steering column swap making me crazy

[Harley1650]

I need to swap my stock steering column in my 63' I converted it to power steering with Captainfab's adapter so I figure whatever I get I'll have to cut.

I've been searching the threads here but haven't found much on 60-66. I'm making myself crazy because I keep going around in circles. I don't want to spend $500 on an aftermarket. What I've learned is I should look for a 1981 and back van column because of the cost and "it will bolt right up" My questions are....

Don't these columns all have keys on them? Should I just rewire the ignition switch?

What is considered "bolt right up"?

What do I have to do about column wiring because I'm sure it won't just plug into my harness....

Could someone explain this simply for me?

I guess I'd like someone to just tell me what year and model I should look for....

To throw a monkey wrench into it, I'm putting in a 700R4 and would prefer a column shift.

Thank You,

Signed
Confused as a baby in a strip joint

[padresag]

just remove the ignition switch on the column and don't worry about those wires. remove them. weld a patch in the column
ron

[Budman56]

Well I wish I could say it was that easy but with change comes mods. I'm in the same boat as you. I bought a truck with a later year column and its been a pain to figure it out. But what I came up with so far is if you use a chevy column the signal wiring is for the most part the same color wiring as the original truck wiring. as far the shifting linkage you can use the cpp kit but I've not had any luck with it yet. As for the years to use I was told to try to find a chevy van 71 to 74. I'm not really sure about the years but someone will correct me if I'm wrong. Good luck!
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[McCoyAZ]

I used a steering column out of an 80's motor home and it did not have a key in the column.

We did have to open up the holes in the clamp a bit to accept the original bolt but other than that it did bolt right up.

I can't tell you exactly what year mine came out of as I bought it at a swap meet and the guy said it didn't really matter what year it was, it would work.

[Harley1650]

Ok, I think I understand now what I'll need to do. I found a raw steel 4 speed auto column shift column on fleabay for $200 with free shipping. What I can't do now is get an accurate measurement of the column in my 63'. Does anyone have a measurement?

[DPowers]

I fabbed mine using a '64 Impala column.
Post #8 on my build.

[64shortbox]

Harley1650,
It's NOT a direct bolt in BUT it's not that bad. You do need to make modifications. IF you have the time to wait it out you can get a tilt van column for a reasonable price. I picked up my van tilt off ebay for $119.00 including shipping. I was the only bidder with the starting bid at $99.00 plus $20.00 shipping. It was a Column Shift and NO key in the column.
You will need to move the neutral safety switch further down the column (towards the firewall) There's an excellent write up about this here:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=147927

I'm lazy and CHEAP, I figured out a faster & easier to move & mount the neutral safety switch using all the measurements from the above link & here's that write up from me.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=523901

In this same link I also show how I mounted the column to the dash using just the factory column mount a 3/8" bolt and a 1/4" thick piece of rubber. This is how GM did it on the 67 C-10's so I figured it was good enough for me.
Hope this info is of some help to you. If you need more info feel free to ask.

[64shortbox]

If you plan on mounting your steering column in the same location as stock a 32" long column will work. If you want to slide the column closer to the dash like most of us do I would go with a 30" column. I pushed my column as close to the dahboard as I could. That extra 2" helps a lot even with the tilt column installed.

[Harley1650]

Thanks guys, those posts helped a lot. My truck has a Muncie right now. i haven't even thought about wiring up a nuetral safety switch haha.

[hugger6933]

The vans up thru like 1981 are the ones to have as they don't have a key in them . Motor homes also have a column that is actually closer to the ones that come in the 70-72 trucks[I have a couple of them ] and they are closer looking than the van but they were up thru I know 86 cause I have one in a 86 motor home I bought to junk out. I have a van tilt that I "shaved" I ground off the shifter knot and welded the holes where the indicator was and made a looka like floor shift column. I probably will try to find a 64 steering wheel and put the tilt in my 64 C60. Just because you don't see them

[Rich 5150 69]

Just a side note to all of those doing steering swaps Cherokee `84 to I think `94 will work for those wanting keyed columns as they are made by saginaw just like GM, the only differance is the directional wiring coded differant, but is the right lenght.

[gimmy 64]

i bought a column from pol. and it turned out to be an ididit column. easy install had to buy the adapter for the wireing but it was only like 20 somthing dollars. i did this because i did not want to put a 30 year old column back in my truck.

[1955 mancave]

so i see that you used a column out of a 80's motor home, how did it work out with the shift lever so far down on the shaft, and the wireing how did that go.

i hope it worked out since i have one out of a 83 motor home that i would love to use rather then buying one.

thanks for the info.

Originally Posted by McCoyAZ

I used a steering column out of an 80's motor home and it did not have a key in the column.

We did have to open up the holes in the clamp a bit to accept the original bolt but other than that it did bolt right up.

I can't tell you exactly what year mine came out of as I bought it at a swap meet and the guy said it didn't really matter what year it was, it would work.

[ABX131]

I put a 71 column in my 63 with very mininal work. It does not have a key on it so it was nice being able to move that back to the stock location. We did have to modify the connecting shaft between the column and the 73' power steering box the PO installed but even that was straight forward.

[doobiebro]

Here's mine: 32" chrome plated, GM hot rod universal shipped on Ebay for $199.00. Column uses a horn wire, standard 4 1/4" male wiring harness common on many GM applications 69 and newer. You will have to find a 9 bolt steering wheel. The column tube is 2" diameter, 1" D-D shaft end. I ordered from CPP the rag joint and colapsible shaft 13/16 36 spline and steer U-Joint 1 DD X 3/4 DD for $118.00. Very simple to install and I used the original lower clamp and park brake lever mount. I also order the foam gasket between the fire wall and lower clamp mount. Check it out..

[DonLeverton]

Where did you get that red instrument panel bezel?

(The GMC is different than the Chevrolet, because the knobs and switches mount below the instrument bezel)

I think I have the same polished aluminum insert as you, which I bought from Dolphin.

I like the way that you bezel looks "deeper" which allows room for the screws that hold the bezel to the dash.

[vince1]

I haven't gotten around to putting mine in yet but I did find out how to wire it.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=793648