What would be the best tilt column to use in a late '50s f100? I haven't yet decided on column or floor shift. I'm using a C6 trans, so if it's column shift I'd need a gear indicator. I'm open to non-Ford if the shift detents match up.
Hmmmmm.. I'd say a 67 pontiac tempest column.. its tilt but no place for the ignition.. its clean I have one in my 50 ford!
Why do you need a gear selector? Don't you know where the gears are? I think they look like ****. Unecessary. Second of all, the detents have nothing to do with the column. Third, get ready to take a lot of **** for wanting a street rod column here. Personally, I thought long and hard about mine, but after 2400 miles to Texas and back, the tilt was nice. As long as you paint it and select a wheel that doesn't scream "street rod", I don't see a problem. Ididit, Flaming River, etc... they're all the same. If you want old, look for a 70s GM van column. Or a Ford tilt (same era) doesn't have a seperate tilt lever, but you will have to figure out how to hide the lower end. DO NOT use one with the ignition in the column. That's GAY. And any tilt column that will also fit in a musclecar, will be alot more than a new Ididit, I can tell you that. (I have a factory tilt in my '67 SS)
The detents on non-ford columns are different than Fords (from the older days) ...lots more room between P and R 25 years ago I heavily modified a 67ish buick tilt column to fit my 59 chevy pickup....works out ok. I left the stock setup in the other trucks I've done since then. If you want a tilt that looks right, find something from the 60s, and expect it to be in bad shape or cost a lot. But it will be worth the cost and effort to do it that way, if you really do need tilt wheel.
A tilt is a tilt. I have a couple sitting in the garage without ignitions on them, one I fished out of a mashed '66 Pontiac at the U-pull-it and can't get the damn wheel off of, one I pulled out of a '68 Bonneville. Sold one out of a '71 Chevy pickup a while back, too. Just a matter of mating it to your steering box and wiring. You should be able to pick them up all day long for $100-$150, unless you're like the *** at the one car show that couldn't see the price written on it in three places and shouts across to interrupt me talking to someone else instead of walking up and waiting his turn. Late 60's T-bird should be cheap, like 67-70, the whole damn cars only sell for $500 or so on eBay if they're not perfect. Older than that, have never priced them out.
[The reason for the indicator is: my non-motorhead wife will need to drive it occasionally and I don't want her bombin' down I-5 in 2nd gear. The reason for the tilt is: I'm 6'5" and she's 5'1".
Normaly I would say thats like asking " What's the best way to get kicked in the balls ", they all **** ! , but due to your situation , I figured a more positive answer was in order . There is a late 50s tilt that came in a pontiac I belive, that was somewhat cool , didn't look like a tilt , it was skinny like a stock column and tilted right behind the wheel with a little lever that looked like a turn signal arm , very stealthy . I bought a 53 chev panel that came with one in it and it was pretty slick , no provision for shifter though , as it had a floor shift. I wish I could tell you what year it was from , but I never found out. -John
mid 70;s Ford van. It doesn't look like a tilt, has an indicator that will match up to most Ford trans, no key.
I ran a 68 T-bird tilt in my F-100. It's a nice,small diameter unit with shifter. You tilt it by pushing forward on the turn signal lever. Nice clean install.
This is probably similar to the '67 Buick column I am putting in my '50 Chevy. It is clean looking, all metal, and no ignition - so I can keep the key on the dash. For my car, I am shortening it about 2.75" to fit.
Well call me gay if you want to but I like my tilt with the lock on the column that locks the steering wheel and the column shifter. Its out of a mid 70's GM. Not the one with the dimmer switch built in, their gay!
I've built a few cars and I use G.M. columns out of mid-70's vans---has column shift--small indicator and they fit in anything--look in 74-78 Chevy / g.m.c. vans.
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