I have a manual square body Chevy truck that I am simplifying the electrical on. I want to get rid of my current column and basically just have a wheel and nothing else. I will then add on a fixed system of paddle style levers(momentary switches and springs) behind the wheel that will operate the turn signals, low/hi beams, and one extra thing I have not decided yet. Totally custom and easy to service just like the rest of the truck. I head to my local pick and pull who had a tilt column on a square body Suburban that was auto with every option and the keys still in it. The thing will bolt right up and has great bushings with tilt being a nice feature so I figured why not. I have ripped the thing down with the key, all the electrical, shift lever, plastic cover and so on being removed. The only thing I still have to remove is the metal cover that holds the shift lever. It seems that this cover has a metal piece that extends all the way down the inside of the shaft so that the linkage has somewhere to attach to. I unscrewed the end and removed the clip and plastic piece that acts as a bushing for the very end of the shaft thinking that may be holding the metal piece. With that out everything is just sloppy yet it is still held in there somehow. If I lost anyone like I tend to do when describing these kind of things I shot a short video to give a better idea what I am trying to remove. The knowledge base on this forum is unmatched. I am sure there is someone on here that has tore these down and can point out the simple thing I am missing. Thank you for reading and any help.
Get yourself a GM shop manual. It will give you all the info to tear this column down. You may have to make your own special tools. It's been forever since I tore one apart.
Here is some great tech on GM tilt steering columns; http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...=-ePU_SrXp5YR5KQQYg-sAw&bvm=bv.82001339,d.aWw It is in PDF form and covers every aspect to rebuilding one of these. Including the complete tear down required to remove the part I want to remove.
I really want to thank you for this great info. I have no idea how to archive this thread on here, but it is the first thread I have ever "watched", simply because I have had so much trouble with search lately, I would expect to never find it again. Very informative!!
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