Steering column...

[71Blaze]

Has anyone rebuilt the steering column in their first gen? I contacted Steering Columns Galore, Inc. and was quoted $425 to rebuild my original column. If I can find a source for parts I'm sure I can do it for a lot less. Any help would be appreciated!

 

[70jimmy]

What part of it needs rebuilding?? I did all the electrical on mine, blinkers, hazards, horn wiring, and blinker and hazard knobs, put on a different shift indicator, fiber optic light cable for the indicator, got the stuff from a donor truck and the electrical from LMC. Repainted the column and put a Grant wheel on it. Everything else was sound but it wasn't a tilt.

 

[71Blaze]

My bearings are shot making the wheel hard to turn. In fact, when I turn a corner I have to physically spin the wheel back to center or it will stay turned! Not very safe to drive like that. I took the wheel off and the top bearing is completely dry and at least one of the ball bearings is completely gone. At the very least I'd say it needs new bearings and a good internal cleaning.

 

[70jimmy]

I cleaned all my stuff up and the bearings were good so just greased em up and put it all back together.

After thinking about it I didn't get the electrical from LMC I got it at the local Car Quest auto parts store.

*** Check out LMCtruck.com I have purchased many parts from them. Latest catalog I have from them is winter 2006. They sell a bearing kit for $34.95 and you can buy all the parts individually.

 

[71Blaze]

I was thinking instead of rebuilding the stock column I could swap in a newer tilt column. Can anyone suggest which year truck I should look at for a donor column (w/o an ignition switch built in)? Has anyone done this before? Thanks.

 

[Yukon Jack]

The Chevy/GMC van tilts are a popular swap but I'm not sure of when the cutoff year is. The shaft that bolts to the column has to be shortened a bit. I'm using one in my 69 and have one to go into my 70 when I get around to it. The often have the wrong plug end on them, but there is a conversion piece that you can get. A sear for "van tilt" might get you more specific info than I'm able to give.

 

[makovai]

Has anyone rebuilt the steering column in their first gen? I contacted Steering Columns Galore, Inc. and was quoted $425 to rebuild my original column. If I can find a source for parts I'm sure I can do it for a lot less. Any help would be appreciated!

There's A local guy here in portland who came highly rcommened from a number of sources and he quoted a rebuild on my tilt column for $150.

$425,,,,,,, sounds like a replacement tilt column instead of a rebuild.

 

[71Blaze]

There's A local guy here in portland who came highly rcommened from a number of sources and he quoted a rebuild on my tilt column for $150.

$425,,,,,,, sounds like a replacement tilt column instead of a rebuild.

$150 isn't bad. The $425 quote got me thinking that I might as well find a tilt all done for that price (mine isn't a tilt). I may wait until next payday and order one from one of the places mentioned on another thread.

 

[bp71k5]

$425 is about the going rate for a rebuilt tilt column around here. I also heard a van tilt is the same, but you just need to shorten the shaft a bit by compressing the collapsible section. Not sure how much though.

 

[makovai]

$425 is about the going rate for a rebuilt tilt column around here. I also heard a van tilt is the same, but you just need to shorten the shaft a bit by compressing the collapsible section. Not sure how much though.

I took my column in today, It was $100 to rebuild it and i need another $50 in parts as my shifter column is broken. This guy came really highly reccomended and after seeing his setup i'd say he prolly knows what he's doing. I could have bought a whole column from him for $425.

that $425 sounds like way too much........for this area anyway.

He also said the Ididit type aftermarket columns are not as strong or sturdy as the originals.

 

[bp71k5]

Yea, I meant to say that cost is to get a rebuilt tilt column (not have my own rebuilt). Since I don't have a tilt column, that's what it'd cost me, unless I can find a van which hasn't already been pillaged.

 

[makovai]

ok, much better. Thats the going price around here, anywhere from $400 - $600 depending on who you call.

 

[mosesburb]

Has anyone rebuilt the steering column in their first gen? I contacted Steering Columns Galore, Inc. and was quoted $425 to rebuild my original column. If I can find a source for parts I'm sure I can do it for a lot less. Any help would be appreciated!

I bought all of my parts from GM. Everything was in town, but it was about 6yrs ago. Here are some numbers that might help:

3902190 Turn Signal Cam Asm
5679205 Upper Bearing
3902563 Plastic Washer
3879747 Rubber Ring
3981935 Lower Bearing Asm/Kit
3902565 Seat
3902564 Bushing
3902561 Shifter Rattle Bushing
3978955 Shift Indicator Housing