The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot '60-'66 Trucks Column is methed up, needs rehab.

1962 GMC 4 on the floor

Trying to get blinkers/brake lights going and saw that I'm missing a bit of stuff behind the steering wheel there. I was looking at LMC https://www.lmctruck.com/1960-66-ch...s/cbe-1960-66-steering-column-components and Im not sure what is supposed be there and what doesn't pertain to me, the column pictured on LMC has a column shift and I do not.

I know I'm missing:
Horn Spring Bushing (34-0405)
Horn Cap Retainer w/Contact (34-0411)
Signal Cancel Plate "C" (34-0761)
Turn Signal Lever & Knob (34-0788)
and the blinker mechanism itself (I don't know if Signal Mechanism Kit [34-0051] is right)

I'm not sure if it used to have Upper Bearing (34-0840) or if I need it. I know it isn't there.

what else is missing? oh and is that spring supposed to be there? (pic 3)

Also the piece behind the part that holds the blinker mech rotates, should it? (pics 4&5)

Is it all worth trying to save or should I go the universal blinker route?

*sorry about poor image quality*

should this post be in the electrical bay?
I put it here because I was going to include fixing steering wheel cracks but I figured that out by searching on here while I was typing the post up.

also Turn Signal Cam w/o Tilt (34-0771) none of these I can find are for 62 they all say 63+ is this non-applicable and if so then what is the correct one?
I'm still looking and will update if I figure it out, but its been a few weeks.

TandM,

I cant speak to GMC but maybe 62 chevy is close - With this in mind I had the same problem for over 10 yrs. I did not have a good understanding of what I had in my column and what 62 should have been. Made for troubleshooting and buying parts difficult. The task finally became priority and I worked it out by finding a youtube video on the subject.

See if you can find a youtube on 59 bel air. It showed the mechanism as it should be in the truck and then I was able to figure out how the mechanism worked and what I was missing. pieced it together from there.

As suggested, there is a chance you dont have the original column.
Cant speak to that spring. The collar does rotate a bit as I recall.

Turn Signal Switch Cable/rod operated. Do you have a switch down on the column tube that looks like the one linked?

Other parts applicable if you don't have them are LMC 0411, 0761. 0051, 0702

Thank you all,
@Hambone - The video will help a lot, I now think the spring may have been used as a spacer to replace the turn signal mechanism.
@bartamos - I almost missed that I need 3 of the LMC 0702 thanks. I don't think I have the switch down there seems like it was cut out when the PO put a universal in.

also is there a thing that plugs in to the fuse box related to blinkers?

wait a sec, cable/rod operated? am I supposed to have rods and cables too?

I'm already up past $111 at LMC and the $30 somthin' from classic for the switch, it just keeps goin' (not trying to save money for re-sale just poor)

You don't buy the switch unless you have that type of switch, that's why I asked in my last post. GMC's of that era had many changes. All of the parts are subject to you actually having a 1962 GMC column. Things get changed by PO's, could have early and later builds, etc.

well that does mix things up a bit. I always thought that it was original to the truck, but that's only because it has all of the nuts and bolts at the bottom and it seems the PO left out about half of the nuts and bolts whenever he would do a "repair". How would I go about identifying such a thing?

the motor is out of a 61 Chevy maybe more than that came with it if it was a donor vehicle.

I can't help you because you don't answer questions you just ask them.

He’s asking questions because he needs help.
I would get an exploded view of your column, it will show the parts, where they go, and part #’s.
Usually found in a Shop Manual.
Good Luck,
Marty

I already know what he wants to know. He needs to answer questions to get help. Trying to save him money and find parts for him right now. How can we figure out what he has, and needs, until he gives us some info? I asked twice so far if he has the column tube style turn signal switch. Maybe even a picture. This helps to identify what column he has and what parts are needed. GMC's of that era have year specific Manuals and they don't address the turn signal or much on horn guts. If all we are going to do is tell everybody, who has a question, to get a manual, I'll start doing that. That's easy. The LMC exploded view is what we are using. That's all he needs for parts. I am trying to identify his column if he wants to do that. He is a mechanic, so he is no slouch. Good man and lady, just need help on this one thing.

Maybe he will decide to help us help him.

Try going to a doctor with an illness and not answer any questions. See if he says, get a medical book and figure it out.

To add to what bartamos has posted involving the turnsignal switch on top of the steering column here.

Harvested from another site where the poster is working on a 1962 C10 .

Now, you will notice I said brake lights and not turn signals. Well᠁ the turn signals still don’t work at this writing. Turns out there is an odd-ball turn signal switch causing the issue. It sits on top of the steering wheel shaft and not behind the steering wheel as is common. Nope, from 1960-1962 Chevy decided to install a switch on top of the steering wheel column at the base of the column. I’ve tested all the wiring and I’m certain the switch has gone bad. However, it has been back ordered for a few months. What to do? I just point where I plan to turn᠁ through the back window, because, well, the side windows don’t open. It mostly works.

With the turn signal switch on eternal back order it seems, I spliced the wiring to the brake light switch and hooked up directly to the brake lights. I can now drive it around town safely, albeit without turn signals.

No, I didn't notice where you said brake lights. I think I'm having a nervous breakdown on this post. Also, don't forget this poster has a GMC!!! May be different than Chevy.

I thought I had answered, "@bartamos - I almost missed that I need 3 of the LMC 0702 thanks. I don't think I have the switch down there seems like it was cut out when the PO put a universal in. "

NO SWITCH, PO put a universal blinker mech in and did not wire it properly, he cut out a bunch of stuff and started running wires but never attached anything.

I am sorry if I am difficult to work with,I'm sure we all have alot of stressful things happening in our lives that are not truck related and sometimes it spills over. I probably have not been able to fully absorb some of the information presented to me. I have a 3 year old son and my wife is seeing a sarcoma specialist to try to identify mixed density nodules on her leg. So O truly am sorry for any confusion or added difficulty from my side.

I am thankful for you all here, bartamos has been alot of help to me and has responded to almost every post I have made.

I will take some pictures and post in an hour or so.

Without a major Q and A and to avoid you spending a fair amount of money. I recommend three options.

1. Buy those parts and hope you have a 62 GMC column.

2. Buy a donor column from a 64-66 Chevy Truck with all the innards in tact. May be just a little more many than buying a bunch of parts. The older GMC's are very hard to get parts for the column.

3.. Use existing or buy a universal clamp on. This option would look funky on a 62 but will work.

We can definitely get either wired. Don't worry about that. The switch would not have been "cut out" just unscrewed. Anyway I'm not sure what parts to recommend buying from LMC, Classic......... and can't seem to figure out what you have. We will support you from here on as you decide on what to do. No more stressing. This is small potatoes. Life and family is the focus.

Here's what I'm working with right now (pic1) and this is the plug (pic2) here is the column if that helps any.

I have a feeling the column is original and all the wiring's been replaced with this stuff.

I'm thinking I will go ahead and buy the parts slowly and hammer out the weird wiring down there as I gather all the bits and bobs to make it work as it should.

I see your upper mast bearing don't I?

yes, with the horn button and what was left of the wire at the bottom center of pic 1

or is it top right of pic 3 our referring to?

Looking at column bell sitting on the seat. Just wondering if you need a new one or not.

There is a small hole melted in it here (red arrow/circle) but other than that it doesn't seem like any inside bits are broken. (from what I can tell)