!967 STD steering column

[Patrick O.]

I'm about to restore my std steering column. My car is a very early number and very original when I dissassembled it. I carefully removed a piece of thin vinyl that had sponge backing from the area where the metal is expanded for the crush zone. I have looked for a replacemnet in all the major suppliers and have not been able to find it. Is it available somewhere I haven't looked? Or are they just using vinyl from a fabric store? Thanks

[John H.]

Re: !967 STD steering column

Patrick -

I'm not aware of any reproduction source for that vinyl sleeve that covers the mesh portion of the column.

[Patrick O.]

Re: !967 STD steering column

Thanks John. If thats the case . What is everyone doing to replace this?

[Stephen L.]

Re: !967 STD steering column

That piece of vinyl covering the crush area of the column is a formed piece that is a partial cone on each end.
Haven't seen a repop yet
You might find one in the scrap yard on a vintage GM product. I'm assuming that the columns are similiar in the crush zone area.

[Jim S.]

Re: !967 STD steering column

The collapsible mesh part of a Corvette column is a smaller diameter than all the other GM first gen energy absorbing columns. One exception; Corvair used the same small diameter mesh jacket as well. So I think that you are going to be looking for a rare part.

I think that the 1967 and 1968 mesh sections are the same. So the vinyl cover would be the same. I am quite sure that the standard (non-adjustable) column mesh section is the same as the telescoping column.

Jim

[Joe L.]

Re: !967 STD steering column

I'm about to restore my std steering column. My car is a very early number and very original when I dissassembled it. I carefully removed a piece of thin vinyl that had sponge backing from the area where the metal is expanded for the crush zone. I have looked for a replacemnet in all the major suppliers and have not been able to find it. Is it available somewhere I haven't looked? Or are they just using vinyl from a fabric store? Thanks

Paul-----


I can't find any indication that the fabric covering was ever available from GM as a separate part. I think it was supplied as part of the jacket assembly or the complete steering column but it was not otherwise serviced.

[Brian T.]

Re: !967 STD steering column

I had an NOS cover, I think I saved the packing. It was in a cardboard tube with a metal cap on each end. Most of the time we are able to reuse the cover. It was installed with a heat source. We use a soldering iron when restoring these. If anyone is interested in the part number, etc. send a PM to me and I will respond on Monday.