steering column swap question

[mudboggink5]

I am looking to change my steering column out of my 86 chevy k20, Its a tillt column and its so loose, that it barely shifts into drive. I found a steering column local thats out of a 1988 chevy scottsdale pickup. My question is will it bolt up, and will the wire plugs be the same. Its an offroad truck, and does not need to be perfect.

 

[89k5350]

i know that most of the internals are the same in the two columns but i dont think you can do a complete swap/ different plugs/ mounting places the 88 column prob requiers a different shaft i just changed the steering colum in my 87 k10 couple days ago so if you need any help give me a shout

 

[dhcomp]

88 was the start of the IFS trucks, so its not a direct swap.

I would buy the 3 tools (wheel puller, lock ring puller thing, and pivot puller) at the parts store, and take yours apart and tighten the pivots.

It is simple to do, and there are lots of writeups online. Takes some patience, but totally doable. No need to swap columns.

 

[89k5350]

yes you could do that but if it has been driven with it loose like that for a little while you could have cracked the housing where the bolts go in

 

[mudboggink5]

yes you could do that but if it has been driven with it loose like that for a little while you could have cracked the housing where the bolts go in

Yea I've checked and it's cracked pretty bad.
On another note I do have a column off an 81 gmc 1 ton. It only has blinker switch no wiper. The wiper on that truck was a separate button. Think it would be easy to put the wipers on a separate switch?

 

[89k5350]

it really depends on what your going to do with the truck is it a strict woods truck or you wanna rode drive it and wheel it would it be worth buying another column for the truck ive never done a seperate switch for the wipers but i think that you would need to add a relay somewhere i just paid a $100 for a complete colum and put it in my truck and everything was perfect tight,lights good,everything working for a hundred bucks and some work. if you wanna do it right and not have to worry bout it in the long run i think you should get another colum

 

[82355]

It can't be that hard to find the correct column. I have thrown a bunch away. I would just look for the correct one.

Martin

 

[89k5350]

no its not i found mine at a local junkyard