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Bolters- Based on information from the archives, I've spent some weekends picking through the region's boneyards in search of a tilt steering column from a late '70's Chevy/GMC van, specifically looking for a column WITHOUT a shifter and WITHOUT column ignition. As I am hoping to find a cheaper alternative than the ididit (or I-paid-for-it) columns that would work here, I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with internet parts locator services. What was your experience? Who would you recommend? I've spent time browsing ebay without luck. I appreciate your tips! Thanks-51PhatBoy

Good luck on finding a van column without the shifter, they only are to be found on manual transmission vans and GM produced very few. I gave up and used a column from an auto trans van and removed the shifter. Then ground off the warts and filled the hole with JBWeld, sanded down and painted the column and collar with wrinkle black. Looks factory. Now I'm fiddling with trying to build a banjo wheel with a GM spline to top off the column with.

oldbones-

Thanks for the input. I may be following your lead soon! 51PhatBoy

oldbones-

Thanks for the input. I may be following your lead soon! 51PhatBoy

51phat, if you're planning on using a tach in your truck, those leftover "ears" from the shifter would make a fine place to mount it. Oh yeah, I've had one of those columns squirrelled away for over 10 years-I paid $50 for it back then, they're getting harder to come by every day! You might try a local boneyard where "The Good Ol' Boys" go-you know, one with little turnover? Give it a shot-you might be surprised!

Regards,
Wannabe

Why a van column? Not many vans had floor shifters that I am aware of. Need a Fird for that. Plenty of bigger 3/4 ton or up trucks had 4spds, why not one of those? Course, then most of them didn't have "pussy" stuff like tilts?!! Even one from a mid-size car, like Monte or Cutlass should be about the same and they had floor shifts in them. Hard to find column in yard that isn't loose or shot or it wouldn't still be there. I've seen some for muscle cars at swapmeets going for over $100 and no bargaining. Most I've paid is $40, but then had to dig it out, in the winter. Take wire cutters, leave the contacts on the column and cut the wires past the connectors in the harness farther, thusly saving the connectors.

GLP-

This is a good tip. I want to stick with the dash ignition switch and was thinking that I would need a column out of truck to get that feature. I will keep my eyes open in the boneyard to see if something long enough and still cherry from a passenger vehicle would work. Spent a recent RAINY winter day looking at dashes recently. Why didn't I think of this in July!??!

With thanks,

51PhatBoy

Vans have dash-mounted ignition key switches