Van steering column shift indicator on a C/K column...will it work?

[jonrpick]

Just so everyone knows where I'm going with this...

I really want to buy one of Ryoken's dash panels when he puts them into production. The *only* thing that would be an issue is losing the shift indicator on the dash for those of us with automatic trannies.

I read a lot of street-rod magazines, because there's lot of good ideas in there that can be carried over to our trucks that the 4x4 mags don't show. I ran across an ad for a company that sells high-end, polished aluminum and chrome steering columns. They are standard tilt/telescopic units that use standard GM parts and wiring. However that would be expensive and too "blingtastic" for my tastes.

The thing that caught my eye was the fact that the shift indicator is on the column, and there's a raised "sight" on the actually shifter (the sleeve over the column where the shifter arm attaches, not the arm itself) that lines up with the indicator.

Here's one of them... $539 for the "cheap" one!?!?!?!

http://www.flamingriver.com/index.c...tegory_id=162/home_id=62/mode=prod/prd113.htm



In Ryoken's dash thread, someone mentioned using a Chevy Van steering column for this same reason.

thread:
http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=198894

post mentioning Van column:
http://coloradok5.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1843741&postcount=49

I searched for a used Van column on eBay so I could get a look at it, and saw what appeared to be the *exact* same shift indicator that was offered on the blingin' street-rod column.

I have read that swapping the entire column into a C/K may not work, or could involve shortening the shaft or something...but I'm wondering if you could remove the upper parts of the Van column and transfer them over to a C/K column???

Knowing how interchangeable GM parts are, I can't imagine they designed a COMPLETELY different column for the van. I'm betting there's a lot of compatibility between the two.

Anyone familiar enough with the construction of these columns to make an educated guess?

 

[Babaganoosh]

Seems like more of a pain in the butt then it's worth. If you don't mind me asking, is it really that important?

 

[jonrpick]

Seems like more of a pain in the butt then it's worth. If you don't mind me asking, is it really that important?

Yes. It's a big deal. My truck won't be a trail rig. It'll be off-road capable for mild trails, but mainly a street-driven truck. Most of the cool stuff on mine will be inside the cab.

Re: being a PITA...possibly. If it's a bolt-off, bolt-on affair, then probably not so much. I don't know, hence this thread...

But really, look at Ryoken's approach...would the factory dash panel work with mods? Yep. Will it look as good as his custom-built panel? Nope... Same thing on his custom electrical system. It's overkill. He knows it and flaunts it, and I love it.

Bottom line, I'm OCD about stuff like that, and it would drive me crazy.

 

[bp71k5]

I actually just got done converting one for use in a first gen. The vans use the exact same tilt column, except the inner shaft is about 3 inches longer in the engine bay. All you need to do is shorten the steering shaft that bolts to the steering box. (not the column). Just compress it a bit to make it shorter.

If the ignition key isn't on the column like the later models, you'll need to figure out that part.

 

[jonrpick]

I actually just got done converting one for use in a first gen. The vans use the exact same tilt column, except the inner shaft is about 3 inches longer in the engine bay. All you need to do is shorten the steering shaft that bolts to the steering box. (not the column). Just compress it a bit to make it shorter.

If the ignition key isn't on the column like the later models, you'll need to figure out that part.

Can the inner shaft from a C/K column be swapped into the Van column?

 

[bp71k5]

Can the inner shaft from a C/K column be swapped into the Van column?

I don't know but I doubt it. It would also have to be of the same design column (later vs older style).

I will tell you that taking apart a tilt column is a huge pain compared to non-tilt. You'll need some special tools to press out some of the fittings. It'll be a gazzillion times easier to just sit on the intermediate shaft a bit to compress it a bit.

 

[jonrpick]

I was just flipping through that same copy of Street Rodder and saw an Ididit ad, and noticed they had columns. I went to their website just now and found that there's a few add-on shift indicators that look like they'd do the trick. That may just be the low-buck solution I was looking for.

http://www.ididitinc.com/catalogs/volume21/pg43.htm

Jegs carries the cheapos (acrylics) here: http://www.jegs.com/p/Ididit/755116/10002/-1

$50+ at this place for the machined aluminum ones, $60 for black powder-coated...

http://www.srbymichael.com/manufacturers/ididit/ididit-steering.shtml

 

[jonrpick]

I don't know but I doubt it. It would also have to be of the same design column (later vs older style).

I will tell you that taking apart a tilt column is a huge pain compared to non-tilt. You'll need some special tools to press out some of the fittings. It'll be a gazzillion times easier to just sit on the intermediate shaft a bit to compress it a bit.

Thanks, I may have found an easy and low-buck solution... see the post above this...

 

[Babaganoosh]

Yes. It's a big deal. My truck won't be a trail rig. It'll be off-road capable for mild trails, but mainly a street-driven truck. Most of the cool stuff on mine will be inside the cab.

Re: being a PITA...possibly. If it's a bolt-off, bolt-on affair, then probably not so much. I don't know, hence this thread...

But really, look at Ryoken's approach...would the factory dash panel work with mods? Yep. Will it look as good as his custom-built panel? Nope... Same thing on his custom electrical system. It's overkill. He knows it and flaunts it, and I love it.

Bottom line, I'm OCD about stuff like that, and it would drive me crazy.

I see your point, I DD a truck without one and it doesn't bother me to much.

 

[jonrpick]

I see your point, I DD a truck without one and it doesn't bother me to much.

Yeah, the indicator on my Dodge Van doesn't work. I just got used to it and got to where I could count the "clicks". I just prefer for it to be working properly is all, or to have an alternate solution.

The good thing about the column-mounted indicator is that it doesn't use that crappy little string or whatever to move the needle. So, aside from it actually falling off, or getting ripped off of the column, it should work forever.

 

[smalltruckbigcid]

You could also go the Lokar shifter route too.....

 

[jonrpick]

You could also go the Lokar shifter route too.....

True, but I'm planning a custom console, and it'll just have the t-case shifter in it, which *will* be a cable shifter. But the whole space between the front seats going all the way to the dash will be filled.