1966 telescope rebuild

[Francis F.]

can any one advise me as to what secures the flat ribbon elect cable at the top end of the steering column? some dwgs show a clip held in place
by a screw. my column has no evedence of this.there has to be something
to hold the cable in place when the col is extended.

any thoughts fran,

[Marco H.]

Re: 1966 telescope rebuild

Did you check the shop manual?? I believe it has a picture that shows the assembly sequence of the Tele Column.
Marco

[Jim S.]

Re: 1966 telescope rebuild

Here is a side view of the 1965-66 Corvette Telescoping Steering Column. Are you talking about the shield (or protector) for the turn signal wires? It looks to me as if the protector and wires slide inside the escutcheon and the dash bracket as the upper end of the column telescopes by 3.00 inches.



Note that there is a hole in the top of the steering column for some type of fastener that was installed at the assembly plant. Further down on the column (not shown in my scan) is what appears to be a rectangular slot at 12 o'clock.

I know that the 1967 and 68 telescoping columns have plastic shields attached to the column jacket with two screws. So both shields are stationary. The shields are slightly different designs between those two years.

Hope that this helps,
Jim

[Francis F.]

Re: 1966 telescope rebuild

hi Jim,thanks for the reply.
I took the column apart just the other day (in old corvette years)
2006, just to repair the loose turn sig arm,and wound up totally apart.
after all repairs I put same in the car and extended tele, only to push
the wiring thru the top of the wheel....not good/

your dwg shows the escutcheon, just to the right is the cone that
actually moves 3 ",the protector & wires must also move 3" up or down
the basic steer column & there in lies my problem.What holds the protector & wires inside this cone? It appears the protector & wires
must be free to ride up & down the lower portion of the column.
many thanks,
Francis (Ford)(pardon the use of the last name in this board)

[Bill C.]

Re: 1966 telescope rebuild

Francis,
I have built/rebuilt many of these, there really is no good service info out there. The wire protector or "sleeve" is very different on the 65-66 table column compared to the std column. The std column sleeve has a special push in type of retainer holding it in place, simply passes through the end of the sleeve and pops into a hole in the column sleeve.

The tele column sleeve is not held to the tube as it must move up and down with the hub. First off, its important the sleeve is correct, not bent or pinched in any way, and the harness ribbon is installed into it properly so there is no bulging at all, it must move thru the clearance slot in the eschuceon freely, also be certain that the eschuceon rubber liner and retaining spring are in place correctly so there is no interference with them. The sleeve is simply pushed up into place inside the bell, there is a small tab that helps "encapsulate" and grip the sleeve when installed.

That tab is often broken off as its delicate die cast. If that is the case a small amount of weatherstrip adhesive can be used to hold it in place and no one is the wiser, I usually use a dab anyway just for insurance. You will probably find that once installed into the car you will adjust it to your liking and never touch it again! So that sleeve will not move either. They are sure a pretty column anyway. I have also converted MANY corvair columns for use in vettes. It is NOT an easy task as most corvair columns would like you to believe and also costly.
The major item needed to change is the lower shaft. This part is assembled into the telescoping assembly up top and is pinned and welded together. Extremely difficult to take apart and not damage the rest of the assembly.
There is a different dash attaching bracket welded to the tube and the lower corvair floor pan flange needs to be removed and there is a locating slot that needs to be pressed into the tube that locates the column assembly to the 12 o'clock installed position as the std column has.
Lots of work, replacement repo tubes are available but are VERY flimsy, the tube gauge is much thinner and you cannot use your original plastic sleeve bearings, they supply you with others to make up the difference but its still sloppy with a very loose feel. There is also a small rubber bumper installed into the assembly that must replaced if any heat is used during tear down, its in place so that when the column is pushed all the way down it hits the internal rubber bumper and stops it from bottoming out hard, but not limiting travel. As far as I know that lower shaft was never serviced by the general. I have seen many "Bubba" replacement shafts, sometimes someone would actualy weld two shafts together, thats an accident waiting to happen,usually someone would modify a std column shaft for use, it worked but was cosmetically very different on the lower end where mounted in the rag joint to allow for the few inches of adjustment up and down into the joint. Yes the std column will adjust up and down quite a bit for operator comfort but of course is not operator adjustable.
The tele shaft the length of the splines and "key" are very short as it does not move. That's why the tele rag joint is different also.
I started making those shafts as an exact repo when I was building them, its way to time consuming so I stopped but still supply all the shafts to the market and as far as I know am the only source.
Enjoy your column and let me know if I can help further
Bill

[Francis F.]

Re: 1966 telescope rebuild

Hey Bill,
thanks for the info. you shined light on my delema
and solved my problem.
some times i look at the forest and don't see any
trees,after your reply the tab at the base of the
bell just jumped out at me.it workgreat at securing
the ribbon wiring strip now.
thanks,Francis.

[Neil C.]

Re: 1966 telescope rebuild

My 66 Wire Protector for Telescopic wheel is bent upon inspection.. Can you heat and straighten out? I can NOT find a suitable Repop anywhere Only see Standard Wheel Protector Repops for sale. Checked Paragon/LIC/Dr Rebuild /Corvette Central and Chicago Vette Supply but dont see it.Can you Modify the Standard to work on a Teel? or Unbend my original by heat>?? If So what source and temp and time.. Thanks

[Russ S.]

Re: 1966 telescope rebuild

They heat and straighten out very nicely. Mine was quite beat up and after heating and straightening it works great.

My 66 Wire Protector for Telescopic wheel is bent upon inspection.. Can you heat and straighten out? I can NOT find a suitable Repop anywhere Only see Standard Wheel Protector Repops for sale. Checked Paragon/LIC/Dr Rebuild /Corvette Central and Chicago Vette Supply but dont see it.Can you Modify the Standard to work on a Teel? or Unbend my original by heat>?? If So what source and temp and time.. Thanks

[Neil C.]

Re: 1966 telescope rebuild

What Heat Source did you use? Boiling Water?place in oven ? Torch Heat? Might be risky?? Thanks PS What type of connector goes to the Hole towards the Firewall in the Protector? Attatch to column or just to holdthe Wire Harness in it ??Also Mine is NOT in the Esucheon but beyond and bent at Firewall end 90 degrees. Once Heated and straightend it SHOULD go under The Esuschion towards the Wheel ?? Correct?

[Jim S.]

Re: 1966 telescope rebuild

I have a call into my retired, skilled trades, prototype steering column assembly man. Claude has a very good memory for steering column details (particularly the locking type columns from 1969 onward). As to whether or not that he worked on the several years earlier, 1965 - 66 telescoping columns, I will have to find out.

I would think that an ordinary hair dryer could provide the necessary heat to the damaged area that would allow you to reform it to original condition.

If Claude has any other wise words on the subject, I will let you know.

Jim

[Russ S.]

Re: 1966 telescope rebuild

IIRC I used a heat gun, but hot water would also work. Yes to last question.

What Heat Source did you use? Boiling Water?place in oven ? Torch Heat? Might be risky?? Thanks PS What type of connector goes to the Hole towards the Firewall in the Protector? Attatch to column or just to holdthe Wire Harness in it ??Also Mine is NOT in the Esucheon but beyond and bent at Firewall end 90 degrees. Once Heated and straightend it SHOULD go under The Esuschion towards the Wheel ?? Correct?

[Neil C.]

Re: 1966 telescope rebuild

OK Hair Dryer Worked Fine.. Thank you....
NOW Where Does the End with the HOLE in the Protector Go ?? and how does it atatch and to what and with what type of Screw Plastic Plug??/??????
What is the major DIFF between this Protector and Standard Non Tele Wheel one??
This Protector MOVES up and Down Thru the Esuchion when Wheel Moves the 3 Inches????
Thanks