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**sweetolbob** · 06-09-2020, 04:04 PM

Look at Camaro columns from 70's through 90's on Ebay. One additional problem can be the column diameter but an upside is universal wiring harness's are setup for these columns connectors generally so the controls will work without a lot of modification.

Bob

**Swifster** · 06-09-2020, 04:08 PM

Getting a 40 or 50 year old steering column will most likely need to be rebuilt...or at least gone thru to make sure you have no problems while driving. I've been at the Ididit facility and the columns are first rate. And you can order them to size without doing your own cutting and fitting.

**bensherb** · 06-12-2020, 01:02 AM

What you are looking for is a column from a '69 Chevy pickup with a floor shift. Good luck, if you find one it'll cost you as much as the ididit unit. Second , I too wanted to keep the stock steering wheel and change the splines to fit the GM column. Sorry, it won't work, the Stude wheel has no hub to modify. Unlike EVERY other steering wheel I've ever dealt with, which has a large solid steel hub which can be modified, the Stude wheel has a only a thin splined tube. There is not enough "meat" there to change anything.

I installed one of the $125 ebay copies, it's ok, not great, but ok, especially for the price . I did modify and use the stock turn signal arm. The tilt lever is from an old GM column, I didn't care for the chrome one that came with the column. The stock Stude column drop is a bit large in diameter, so I made a sheet metal shim and tack welded it to the drop. Also made a tube to mount the lower end to the firewall. The ebay stainless steel column is in my GT but also have an identical GM made one in our '53, both have column shifts. I did the '53 column over 30 years ago.

For steering wheels, our '53 has a wheel from Cadillac with about a 4" dish, not sure what year, most wheels from the 60's up will fit, spline wise. The GT has a wheel I made. It has an oval rim to match the original GT wheel, it allows a good view of ALL the gauges, which a round wheel does not. The spokes are 3/16" stainless, the horn hub is aluminum and its mounted on a Grant style adapter I made from a GM wheel hub, with an adapter bell made from ABS pipe. It has a 2.5" dish.

**DEEPNHOCK** · 06-12-2020, 03:50 AM

Did one for John Sartorius for his '59 Silver Hawk..
Used an Ebay polished stainless tilt column. Modified the end to accept the double D shaft end.
Straightforward installation except for the shaft end work.
Really made a big difference in entry/exit and driving position.

**bensherb** · 06-12-2020, 08:47 PM

That's a cool steering wheel Jeff. My ebay column is plain (brushed) stainless, it was the same price as bare steel. It was already set up for DD shaft. It fit a 1"DD on its outside and 3/4" DD inside. I just slid about 8" of 3/4" DD shaft into it , a 3/4" DD to 3/4" DD stainless U joint and grafted a 2" DD shaft into the original steering box shaft/worm gear, and added a seal to the top of the box. I have a R&P to eventually replace it with.

**WilburV** · 06-17-2020, 07:58 AM

Those are both great examples of tilt column installations. I'll continue to be on the hunt for a smooth, early model junkyard saginaw column, knowing that an Ebay column would be a workable alternative if I can't find one.

After just finding this online image of a stock wheel mounted to a tilt column, I'm bound and determined to do the same thing and will report back when I get that far along on my car.

**studegary** · 06-17-2020, 04:27 PM

I guess that I do not understand why so many want to spend time and money to have a tilt column. I have owned some and driven many. I end up setting it to be a straight column and leaving it there.

**bensherb** · 06-18-2020, 01:55 PM

Originally posted by studegary View Post

I guess that I do not understand why so many want to spend time and money to have a tilt column. I have owned some and driven many. I end up setting it to be a straight column and leaving it there.

I tend to leave mine either straight or one click down. I've heard people here complain about the wheel being too close to the seat to easily get in or out, so there's one reason. For me, I like that I get warning flashers out of the deal, but I also got a shifter correct for my transmission. Also, if you intend to or already have changed to a different steering box, you'll likely be cutting the column free of the stock box, modifying it and remounting it anyway to adapt to the different box or rack.

**bensherb** · 06-18-2020, 02:04 PM

Originally posted by WilburV View Post

Those are both great examples of tilt column installations. I'll continue to be on the hunt for a smooth, early model junkyard saginaw column, knowing that an Ebay column would be a workable alternative if I can't find one.

After just finding this online image of a stock wheel mounted to a tilt column, I'm bound and determined to do the same thing and will report back when I get that far along on my car.

It's been decades since I've had an early C/K steering wheel in hand, so perhaps they're made like most other wheels, with a thick solid hub which could be modified. The late, I believe '62 up, wheel is different; for one, it's not round; and has no soild hub, just a thin splined tube. So, no room to respline, or bore and insert a differently splined tube into.

**sweetolbob** · 06-18-2020, 02:19 PM

Originally posted by studegary View Post

I guess that I do not understand why so many want to spend time and money to have a tilt column. I have owned some and driven many. I end up setting it to be a straight column and leaving it there.

I won't build a car without one. I like the wheel position I can get with the tilt and with me over 6 ft tall most cars don't have the angle I find comfortable. Even my new Ram pickup has the column tilted in an up position.

Bob