Tried to install a 1971 chevy pickup steering column in my 57 chevy pickup today. The reason for this modification is to allow me to be able to facilitate shifting my th350 via the shift lever on the column. My research led me to believe this set up would be the majic fix. I was wrong! The issue I've run into, is the 57 column is 37" long and the 71 colum is 37" long and they both reside at the same angle. The 71 colum sticks about 11" past the dashboard into the cab. This obstructs the driver's view and does not seem safe. The fix seems to be finding a three speed automatic steering column about 5" to 7" shorter. Does anyone know what chevy car/truck column would work for this? The other option is to cut the column I have down. Is this possible with out wrecking the shift linkage, column, etc? Thanks, JIM
Yes you can shorten those. The inner tube does the shifting; it is just thin wall tubing...there is no shift linkages hiding in there. The outer tube is the same thinwall. Then the inner steering shaft which is solid. just take it all apart and cut each piece exactly the same amount. When you take it apart, draw a sketch of how it came apart to make it easy...or take pics. I just had to ***emble one for a local club project. They forgot to take pics when they pulled it apart for shortening into a 51 Merc. I have done a few, so I did manage to get it done. It's a real good column for many swaps, IMO
Don't try to cut the colum down, it would take alot of time and money to make it right. Have you looked at a Monte Carlo column? not sure of the length, but they might be a hair shorter?
Or I guess never mind I like F&J's idea the more I think about it. One of those on second thought moments...
was your 57 not a 3 on the tree? seems to me that could be converted easier then making that 71 column work. well that and the 57 imo would look better...
If you shorten the column you have think of this. Do not cut all at the same place. Stagger the cuts with the inner the longest so that you can get to everything for welding
the benifit of the later column would be the detents for shifting. the turn signal wiring would be good too. I had the original 3 speed linkage to auto trans deal in my 49. all the way up is Park, all the way down is low. then you count to where you want to go. you get good at it after a while... but that is the only car I've ever owned that I shoved into reverse while driving down the road. only for a second. didn't hurt anything too much. only did it once. a car I'm working on now I'm planning on butchering a 70's column for the shift detents. then have the stock column and shift linkage inside the car, but more safe on the other end. the plan may or may not happen...
yea reverse while going forward is no bueno! I can see the advantages of having a column with detents.
i put a 78 Firebird column in my 55 2nd chevy truck. It is in the right spot up top and sits about 3-4 inches below the floor. I will see if I can find any pics. I have removed it for paint at this point so I cannot take any new ones
I think my plan is to cut four and a half inches of the outer tube and shift linkage tube out of the middle just below the wiring harness. Then pull the shift tube up and weld it together, followed by the outer tube. After that I'll cut four inches off the end of the main shaft and throw my universal joint on the end. A six pack of beer came up with this plan; what can go wrong?
My truck came with the column in it. 53 chevy pickup and appears to be a tilt out of some late 80's/ early 90's s10 or s10 blazer I believe. anyway, its about 32" long which is about the standard size for trucks like ours. (give or take)...
The six pack of beer plan worked! Cut four and one quarter inches out of the middle tubes, welded them back together, cut four inches off the shaft, joined to the steering box with a universal joint. Hooking up shift linkage was interesting, but worked with some modification.
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