The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 1971 C-10 Chevy truck automatic shift column

Hello everyone. I'm new to this site. I found it in a search trying to help out a friend that is restoring a 1971 Checy truck.
Hopefully someone might know what's up with this steering column.

This is a long question.
I have a friend that is restoring a 1971 C-10 Chevy truck. The cab has been replaced complete with a steering column.(old cab had a floor shift)

The chassis has a 3 speed automatic transmission.

Following the procedure in the shop manual, to the letter, (more than once), the pointer in the cab ends up rotated too far to the left. The manual mentions not to be concerned with the pointer position and that it will be covered in section 9 of the manual. Thats where the delima is. No where in section 9 do they talk about the pointer position. It must have slipped their mind!!! They only talk about setting end-play.

If the bolts in the collar, at the bottom end of the column, are removed it is possible to rotate the collar so that the pointer is in the proper position. The linkage to the transmission can be adjusted to be in the correct gear to agree. However, there are then no bolt holes that line up with the collar.

It's important that the pointer agrees with the proper position so that the neutral safety switch works properly.

What I don't know is:

1. Are there different components between a steering column for a two speed and a three speed transmission.

2. Is there an adjustment somewhere else that can be made on the upper end. (that's the part the manual left out). Looking at it, there doesn't appear to be any adjustment.

Thanks for any help.
Doug

Make shure the trans. linkage is correctly adjusted. You can loosen the clamps that hold the column & turn the mast jacket to get a minor adjustment of the quadrant. There is a tang that goes in a slot right behind the inst. panel. You may have to bend it up a little.

Why were you asking about the difference between a 2 and 3 speed? The only thing I can see being different is maybe the indicator layout itself. My '70 GMC has a 350 TH and it has no indicator assembly at all. as far as the nuetral, just keep count of the gears when shifting. it's the same layout as newer cars: from park, one click is reverse, two clicks is nuetral, three clicks is drive, four clicks is second, five clicks is first. The clicks I'm speaking about are the stoppers in the tranmission and on the column itself, and can be felt through the column when selecting a gear. When you shfit you should only have to pull the selector forwrad when moving from or going into park and from drive to second. Any other movments between reverse and drive will just click if you move the lever.

I not at home near my 69, so I'm having trouble remembering/visualizing it.
But isn't the connection between the shift arm at the bottom of the column and the shift rod to the trans an adjustable clamp?
If so, you shoulde be able to loosen it and adjust the pointer to "N" with the trans in neutral.

regards,
Leon