by Can't find the manual I just got a few months ago 
I need a diagram of how to remove the steering column on my first gen
I need a diagram of how to remove the steering column on my first gen+4
RodStRace
Scott
donivan65
G-Man
8 posters
removing the steering column????
G-Man- Mayor
- Number of posts : 30743
Location : Fowlerville, MI
Age : 63
Registration date : 2008-05-06
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12245
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
1st thing, pull the steering wheel off,,,,,,,unplug the wire connectors,,,,,undo the clamp by your knees,,,,,take off the rubber boot at the floor,,,,,,,,then undo the column and shift shaft clamps under the boot and lift it up,,,,,,,steering box shaft stays,,,,,rest slides up and off,,,,,,,
Scott- Number of posts : 1651
Location : Anoka, MN
Age : 54
Registration date : 2008-05-20
Should find some diagrams on here..
I created a paid account at Photobucket and have started uploading van manuals, I figure its a good source for snapshots and reference.
http://photobucket.com/gvansource
Password: unlock
Just click an album listed in the left column, if it isn't there you can click All Albums at the top.
I'm not real happy with the layout, but there's not a lot I can do about it, thats just the way Photobucket seems to work. Hopefully it will get better with time. I have a few more books to add, but it takes time to get the scans all sorted and uploaded. Plus I cringe when I have to cut the spine to automatically scan all the pages. But, its better to cut it and help many vanners, then preserve it for myself.
I created a paid account at Photobucket and have started uploading van manuals, I figure its a good source for snapshots and reference.
http://photobucket.com/gvansource
Password: unlock
Just click an album listed in the left column, if it isn't there you can click All Albums at the top.
I'm not real happy with the layout, but there's not a lot I can do about it, thats just the way Photobucket seems to work. Hopefully it will get better with time. I have a few more books to add, but it takes time to get the scans all sorted and uploaded. Plus I cringe when I have to cut the spine to automatically scan all the pages. But, its better to cut it and help many vanners, then preserve it for myself.
G-Man- Mayor
- Number of posts : 30743
Location : Fowlerville, MI
Age : 63
Registration date : 2008-05-06
My problem is getting it out of the steering box, have done the above. Just won't pull out????
Scott- Number of posts : 1651
Location : Anoka, MN
Age : 54
Registration date : 2008-05-20
I'm sure Don has a picture of this, I bet he's tracking it down right now..
I pulled my spare column apart a few weeks ago, but am a little fuzzy on the details. Doesn't the column base slide over the outside of the steering box, then a clamp keeps it snug?
I pulled my spare column apart a few weeks ago, but am a little fuzzy on the details. Doesn't the column base slide over the outside of the steering box, then a clamp keeps it snug?
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12245
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
Then I would say maybe the bearing in the turn signal switch is sticking to the steering box shaft,,,,,,or maybe knock that pin out of the shift lever and remove it,,,,,,or the column, which just slides over the steering box, is stuck,,,,,,,can you twist the whole column? where does it seem to be hanging up,,,,,top of column,,,,,bottom of column,,,,,bottom of shifter shaft next to brake pedal,,,,did you take both lower clamps off under the boot?
Last edited by donivan65 on Mon Apr 26, 2010 11:36 am; edited 1 time in total
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12245
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
Boy that Scott is GOOD!!!!!
G-Man- Mayor
- Number of posts : 30743
Location : Fowlerville, MI
Age : 63
Registration date : 2008-05-06
heres where we are shaft won't come out, do we remove that 1 1/2 nut???? What are we doing wrong???
RodStRace- Number of posts : 3046
Location : Chino Valley
Registration date : 2010-01-21
Scott, I'd suggest offering your pages to this site:
http://www.oldcarmanual.com/
I'm sure they would be happy to host your info. You could point to it there.
Gman, looking at your pictures and Donnivans, it looks like you have already removed the column cover and are trying to remove the shaft. This has the worm gear on the end and the box must be disassembled to remove it.
I'd thing it would be better to remove the box from the van and do this on the bench or floor. I don't have experience with a Chevy column, but that's the way it looks to me.
http://www.oldcarmanual.com/
I'm sure they would be happy to host your info. You could point to it there.
Gman, looking at your pictures and Donnivans, it looks like you have already removed the column cover and are trying to remove the shaft. This has the worm gear on the end and the box must be disassembled to remove it.
I'd thing it would be better to remove the box from the van and do this on the bench or floor. I don't have experience with a Chevy column, but that's the way it looks to me.
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12245
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
Now you are down to the steering box itself,,,,,,,you need to remove the pitman arm and the 2 bolts in the frame to get the whole box out,,,,,,,not much point in removing the shafts and ball bearings unless you are rebuilding it,,,,,,,there is an adjuster screw on the side as well as a fill plug for the oil,,,,,and there are 2 bolts holding the shift levers assembly to the steering box,,,,,,
G-Man- Mayor
- Number of posts : 30743
Location : Fowlerville, MI
Age : 63
Registration date : 2008-05-06
Don, this is what I want to do. This column is junk no wiring in it beat up all the guts inside are damaged. I want to replace it with a aftermarket column from Ididit. Since they don't list a column for our vans I want to take the old column down there to be sure to get the right column. So I really only need the shaft out.
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12245
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
OK, the really big nut is the locknut,,,,whack it with a chisel to loosen it,,,,,then the inner one should unscrew,,,,,maybe the shaft will come out,,,,,,or its sawzall time,,,,,,,,
G-Man- Mayor
- Number of posts : 30743
Location : Fowlerville, MI
Age : 63
Registration date : 2008-05-06
I'll give it a whack Tuesday and let you know how it comes out.
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12245
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
I don't know about that plan,,,,,,,what are you going to use for a steering box? I think you should REMOVE the steering box, put it all back together and then they will see what you got. Those steering boxes kind of work backwards,,,,,and if you going to get just the column, you want it to fit the steering box. And if you get a complete unit, you want it to FIT, and WORK on your van.......
Digz- Number of posts : 3794
Location : United States Six Lakes MI
Registration date : 2008-05-17
Yeah the plan, if you are down to the solid shaft that goes into the steering box, you are not going to get it out with out gutting the steering box. I think.
G-Man- Mayor
- Number of posts : 30743
Location : Fowlerville, MI
Age : 63
Registration date : 2008-05-06
so the columns on our vans are differant than lets say a pickup, and what I mean by that is you can't replace the column without getting a differant steering box??? I have seen aftermarket columns in other early's and just thought they just replaced the column???
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12245
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
That's what I mean,,,,,what is your plan? get a steering column with the steering box built in or get a steering column that will fit on your vans steering box? Our vans have the steering box built into the steering column,,,,,,the rest of the world has the steering box separate. So you need a plan,,,,,which way are you going to go???? You might have to weld a new steering column to your old steering box,,,,,,and like I said, our steering boxes are mounted in there backwards,,,,,,,,so you should take the steering column with the steering box attached and show them your system and then find out what you need,,,,,,,,,,
Scott- Number of posts : 1651
Location : Anoka, MN
Age : 54
Registration date : 2008-05-20
I was rolling this around the other day, although I didn't get down to the measurements, I think you would need to cut that steering rod, and weld your new column rod to the old one. The guy I bought my transmission from had put a 50 something pickup body on a Silverado frame. He kept the old steering column by cutting the shaft, and welded in a Craftsman 1/2" elbow between the old and the new.
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12245
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
That sounds about right,,,,a normal steering column is self contained,,,,it uses a driveshaft to connect it to the steering box,,,,,,SO,,,,,if you buy one of those universal tilt steering columns,,,,you might end up cutting the bottom off your shiny new steering column to hook up a driveshaft to your steering box,,,,,,thats why I say,,,,,,what's the plan?
gotavan- Number of posts : 242
Location : Greenville Michigan
Registration date : 2008-05-17
Chris are you going to weld one of those idiot columns onto your old shaft.
good luck with that plan.
good luck with that plan.
RodStRace- Number of posts : 3046
Location : Chino Valley
Registration date : 2010-01-21
What the rodders do is to cut off the shaft about 2 inches out of the box and use an adapter or universal joint to connect to a different steering column. Borgeson is the major supplier of these fittings. Search for their stuff.
Rodders do this for a few reasons; to update the column, to incorporate a collapsable column (not an issue for us), to allow clearance for motor swaps (not us) and lastly, a few have experienced the shaft snapping due to 50+ years of driver weight, body to chassis flex and past accidents. They have been few, but it has happened. Again, the vintage vans are not as susceptible to these issues, but it has happened so you should know.
BTW, if you do swap to another column with a joint, you will have to support the lower end, since the shaft is no longer a solid connection to the box.
Here are some links
http://www.hotrodders.com/kb/steering-articles
Rodders do this for a few reasons; to update the column, to incorporate a collapsable column (not an issue for us), to allow clearance for motor swaps (not us) and lastly, a few have experienced the shaft snapping due to 50+ years of driver weight, body to chassis flex and past accidents. They have been few, but it has happened. Again, the vintage vans are not as susceptible to these issues, but it has happened so you should know.
BTW, if you do swap to another column with a joint, you will have to support the lower end, since the shaft is no longer a solid connection to the box.
Here are some links
http://www.hotrodders.com/kb/steering-articles
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12245
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
Scratch that plan,,,,,he says his steering box is shot,,,,,,,NEXT,,,,,
G-Man- Mayor
- Number of posts : 30743
Location : Fowlerville, MI
Age : 63
Registration date : 2008-05-06
My steering box is OK just the column was missing so much thought a aftermarket would be a easier way to go. Learned our steering boxes are differant and adding a aftermarket would cost and be more work. Guess I need to hunt for the parts I need to fix my old one
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12245
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
There is not much to the steering column,,,,,,,just a bearing on top,,,,,,the shift lever and shaft are not much trouble,,,,,,so that leaves the turn signal switch and housing to cause problems,,,,,,,,
Digz- Number of posts : 3794
Location : United States Six Lakes MI
Registration date : 2008-05-17
Chris I have this column in the hippy van I am going to swap out anyway, its yours if you want it. it will need to be blasted but it is dent free.
The turn signal stuff is broken however.
The wire harness is intact but is stiff feeling.
After re-reading, is it just the turn signal stuff thats junk?
The turn signal stuff is broken however.
The wire harness is intact but is stiff feeling.
After re-reading, is it just the turn signal stuff thats junk?
