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Installing Chevy Van steering column?
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: Davis, Ca
Installing Chevy Van steering column?
I need advice on installing a ’73 Chevy van (automatic) steering column in a ’56. It has
Volare power steering and brakes. I’m putting the truck together now. The cab is off. The column is 36” to the shaft end.
1. Where do you buy the joint to attach the Volare shaft to the column shaft and what is it called?
2. How do you attach or support the column at the floor board? I plan to make a plate and cut a hole for the column.
3. What do you use for a column drop at the dash board and where do you buy it?
4. Is the column the right length? If too long how do you shorten the shaft?
Volare power steering and brakes. I’m putting the truck together now. The cab is off. The column is 36” to the shaft end.
1. Where do you buy the joint to attach the Volare shaft to the column shaft and what is it called?
2. How do you attach or support the column at the floor board? I plan to make a plate and cut a hole for the column.
3. What do you use for a column drop at the dash board and where do you buy it?
4. Is the column the right length? If too long how do you shorten the shaft?
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,734
Likes: 2
From: Kansas City area
Several companies make the pieces you will need. Borgeson and Flaming River make the universal joint coupling with the Chrysler spline x DD shaft for the steering box. From there use a DD shaft and another u-joint to connect to the column. 36" may cause a problem. I used a 32". You will have to remove the bearing at the end of the column, cut the outer housing and shaft and replace the bearing. Not sure if you can shorten enough without messing with the shift mechanism. Floor supports and column drops are sold by several companies also. Get a MidFifty catalog or a Classic Truck or Street Rodder magazine and you will find several vendors wanting your money.
New User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24
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normH did you ever get the info you needed-I also have a 52 with a volarie front end, 289 bored 30 over with a c4 tranny and a (i think) a torino rear end. I was given a steering column that I think is a gm, about a 70. I need to find a schematic to wire it and was wondering where to find it. I have eight wires in the half moon plug with a ninth grey wire for the indicator lite. I've looked every where and no luck. the wires are blk, blk w/blue stripe, dark blue, brown, purple, blk w/yellow stripe. green, and blk w/white stripe. any help would be so.... appreciated. tony
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: Davis, Ca
I'm not that far along yet but I've heard GM color code are consistant over the years. My '73 Chevy Van column has an 8 wire Delco-remi harness but the colors seem to be, in order, White, green, yellow, purple, brown, dark blue, light blue, black. My though was to go to the local library and look up GM color codes.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 8,813
Likes: 13
From: Littleton, New Hampshire
Tony,
Your best bet is to power up the column and trace the wires with a test light. Usually a large red wire will the main 12V source for the column's power. If you connect that to 12 volts and ground the column with with a black wire or any metal portion you can figure out what all the other wires are. As a start...on most GM columns the dark and light blue are front directional signals, green and yellow are the rear signals, horn and /or ground is black or green, purple is turn signal or 4 way flashers, red is 12V input from battery, brown is accessory 12V. These colors vary over the years so your 70 column might not conform to these colors. That's why you need to test it with a light. I used a Chrysler column which has it's own set of colors...
Vern
Your best bet is to power up the column and trace the wires with a test light. Usually a large red wire will the main 12V source for the column's power. If you connect that to 12 volts and ground the column with with a black wire or any metal portion you can figure out what all the other wires are. As a start...on most GM columns the dark and light blue are front directional signals, green and yellow are the rear signals, horn and /or ground is black or green, purple is turn signal or 4 way flashers, red is 12V input from battery, brown is accessory 12V. These colors vary over the years so your 70 column might not conform to these colors. That's why you need to test it with a light. I used a Chrysler column which has it's own set of colors...
Vern
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,622
Likes: 3
From: okla
I have that same column in my 53F100. I cut the splined portion of the shaft off and used a smooth bore "pinned" Borgenson u-joint. It still protrudes into the engine compartment a good distance. I used the same set up in a previous 40 sedan and have one in my 46 coupe with 30,000 miles and no problems. I can provide you with wiring info but will have to wait untill this eve to dig it out. This column is not a "perfect" fit for our trucks, but it was the right price for me. At one time I bought 3 of these for little dough, so I used them all. Joe
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thanx everybody, all the info will be perused. you can get my e-mail from administrator, I think. I do appreciate any help I can get. as far as checking with an amp probe/ volt meter, my electrical abilities are a bit lacking. I'm a rookie with a great desire, but i'm afraid I just don't hook-up well with the electrical thing. I worked with an electrical contractor for a few years and my fear factor got the best of me so, My learning cap sucks. anyway, I can read a diagram, I'm cheap, and want my trk. I've had it since high school (68 grad, nam vet. in love with my ford, wife hates it.) by the by, theres a guy on hotrodders.com name john niolon ( i think) that has lots of great info on a 53 he's got. check him out. and hey, sorry about the chevy steering, what can I say, I'm cheap, but----I love my Ford! later fordsters
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Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2001
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From: Waynesboro, Virginia
You can get a diagram for the column wiring here, plus a lot of other neat info.
Sorry I didn't have the time to research exactly which item is your column.
Paul
http://www.painlesswiring.com/manuals.php
Sorry I didn't have the time to research exactly which item is your column.
Paul
http://www.painlesswiring.com/manuals.php
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 78
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From: Davis, Ca
Thanks for all the wiring information. It will be very helpful.
Vintage Ford (Sacramento) got me a steering adapter joint that mates a GM spline on one end with Chrysler on the other. Put it on today and it seems to work fine. The shaft ends almost touch so the "36" Chevy Van column looks like a good fit. Although with a 2 1/2" drop at the dash, the column is right at the top of the highest point passing through the hole in the floor board. WIll that be a problem?
I will need to take the shift arm out of the lower column housing in order to slide the column drop and floor bracket on. How does the shifter come off? Any suggestions?
Vintage Ford (Sacramento) got me a steering adapter joint that mates a GM spline on one end with Chrysler on the other. Put it on today and it seems to work fine. The shaft ends almost touch so the "36" Chevy Van column looks like a good fit. Although with a 2 1/2" drop at the dash, the column is right at the top of the highest point passing through the hole in the floor board. WIll that be a problem?
I will need to take the shift arm out of the lower column housing in order to slide the column drop and floor bracket on. How does the shifter come off? Any suggestions?
New User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24
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sacramento has lots of goodies, I got a remote oil filter from them and it worked out great. I got all kinds of stuff from them, too many to mention, good source. have you checked out john niolon's articles, If I remember correctly, his toy was a 53. as far as the disassembly of the column goes, it seems a bit too much work as on mine, it would have had to be a complete disassembly and that spooked me so I gonna try to build my own design on the cover plate. wish me luck. I picked up a 220 miller mig so i could start doing the body work (extensive cancer). well, I gonna sign off and try to find the electrical site for my wiring.
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