'67 telescopic steering column

[Larry S.]

I've located a '67 telescopic steering column at a not outrageous price. It supposedly has "all" the parts needed for a conversion from a standard column, such as the dash mounting bracket and locking ring. What other parts specific to the telescopic column should I be looking for?

Also, where can I find installation instructions? Any tips on this? Thanks.

[Gerard F.]

Re: '67 telescopic steering column

Larry,

Take a look at this recent thread:

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthre...olumn&uid=4175

I think Jim Shea knows everything there is on doing steering columns and and is presently doing a paper on your very column.

Cheers.

[Larry S.]

Re: '67 telescopic steering column

Larry,

Take a look at this recent thread:

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthre...olumn&uid=4175

I think Jim Shea knows everything there is on doing steering columns and and is presently doing a paper on your very column.

Cheers.

Gerard, my search skills must be nil. I tried 'telescopic column', 'telescoping column', 'steering column', and every variation I could think of, and Jim Shea's post didn't come up. Thank you for the link.

[Jim S.]

Re: '67 telescopic steering column

I haven't posted my 1967-68 telescoping steering column papers as yet because there are so many corrections and clarifications that I have had to add or I am still working on. The Chevrolet Chassis Shop manuals (67-68) are tragic with respect to these one year only steering columns. To start off with, the early 1967 columns (both standard non-adjustable and the telescoping type) were campaigned. The steering shafts and lower bearings were replaced by modified replacement parts. (The 1967 manual had already gone to press and therefore does not reflect the 2nd campaign design.) Then to make matters worse, the 1968 manual was updated in a very haphazard manner. Neither year blowup pictures in the manuals match the engineering drawings.

The other problem is that I don't own either a 1967 or 1968 Vette (and January in Michigan is hardly the time to visit other possible owners.)

I will post the Telescoping Steering Column Disassembly & Repair Papers #1 and #2 in their almost completed form. Any comments, corrections, clarifiactions, etc would be greatly appreciated.

Here is the link to D&R Paper #1. Remove steering wheel and horn parts; remove turn signal lever; replace turn signal switch; replace upper column bearing.

http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/67-68-corvette-tele-strg-column-dr_1rev17ja2009.doc

Here is the link to D&R Paper #2. This paper is about 80% compete. Drop or remove steering column from vehicle; replace lower column bearing; remove upper tube & flange from mast jacket; remove upper telescoping shaft from lower shaft.

http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/67-68-corvette-telescoping-strg-column-dr_2-rev16ja2009.doc

Jim

[Larry S.]

Re: '67 telescopic steering column

[quote=Jim Shea (36737);391479]I haven't posted my 1967-68 telescoping steering column papers as yet because there are so many corrections and clarifications that I have had to add or I am still working on. The Chevrolet Chassis Shop manuals (67-68) are tragic with respect to these one year only steering columns. To start off with, the early 1967 columns (both standard non-adjustable and the telescoping type) were campaigned. The steering shafts and lower bearings were replaced by modified replacement parts. (The 1967 manual had already gone to press and therefore does not reflect the 2nd campaign design.) Then to make matters worse, the 1968 manual was updated in a very haphazard manner. Neither year blowup pictures in the manuals match the engineering drawings.

The other problem is that I don't own either a 1967 or 1968 Vette (and January in Michigan is hardly the time to visit other possible owners.)

I will post the Telescoping Steering Column Disassembly & Repair Papers #1 and #2 in their almost completed form. Any comments, corrections, clarifiactions, etc would be greatly appreciated.

Here is the link to D&R Paper #1. Remove steering wheel and horn parts; remove turn signal lever; replace turn signal switch; replace upper column bearing.

http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/67-68-corvette-tele-strg-column-dr_1rev17ja2009.doc

Here is the link to D&R Paper #2. This paper is about 80% compete. Drop or remove steering column from vehicle; replace lower column bearing; remove upper tube & flange from mast jacket; remove upper telescoping shaft from lower shaft.

http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/67-68-corvette-telescoping-strg-column-dr_2-rev16ja2009.doc

Jim[/quote

Jim, I am so confused. Your paper says to remove the steering wheel with a steering wheel puller. My steering wheel is held on only by Phillips head screws. Will this work (in very abbreviated form): remove the steering wheel, drop and support the steering column from the dash bracket, disconnect all wires to the steering column, and then....pull?

I've removed only one steering column before, from a '56 T-Bird, and it was simple, just like as outlined above. The steering box on a Corvette looks like a very different connection, though.

Please excuse my ignorance; I'm an amateur (not at being ignorant, though!).

Larry

[John H.]

Re: '67 telescopic steering column

I am so confused. Your paper says to remove the steering wheel with a steering wheel puller. My steering wheel is held on only by Phillips head screws. Larry

Larry -

Those six screws just hold the steering wheel to the hub; once you remove the wheel from the hub, you'll need a steering wheel puller to get the hub off the shaft.

The steering wheel puller looks like the photo below - usually less than ten bucks; some places will rent you one.

[Gerard F.]

Re: '67 telescopic steering column

Larry,

Here is one of those generic steering wheel pullers in use on a 67 standard column. I think the telescoping wheel is the same at this level, but I could be wrong.



On a standard column there is no need to remove the 6 phillips screws to pull the steering wheel. You pull the wheel with the hub.

[Jim S.]

Re: '67 telescopic steering column

It is quite difficult to write a paper that will describe in detail how to disassemble a complex component like a steering column without writing an entire book on the subject. The best that I can say is that probably my papers should be taken in context with the Chevrolet Chassis Shop Manual or some other equally complete manual(s).

I have tried to write my papers around the most common service procedures that we might encounter on a 30/40 year old vehicle. Such things as turn signal switches, lock cylinders, and upper column bearings - Disassembly & Repair paper #1. Then dropping the steering column, replacing the lower bearing, checking the steering shaft length, etc - with D&R paper #2.

I have tried to add clarification and/or alternatives when possible. For instance, if you are replacing the turn signal switch, the shop manual just says cut off the curved connector on your original switch and pull the wires. I provided two alternatives to slicing off the original connector. And there is a difference between a 1967 column and a 1968.

You can remove the steering wheel and hub assembly as one unit (with a puller). Or you can remove the steering wheel first by removing the six screws that attach the wheel to the hub and then use a puller. I believe that the Chassis manual does address these alternatives. The real trick is to beg, borrow, or purchase a steering wheel puller rather than beating on the end of the steering shaft.

Another topic could be "What happens if the indentation on the end of the steering shaft does not match the indentation on the steering wheel hub? On cars that are 30/40 years old there can be a number of reasons why the marks may not match. I tried to address that topic in another whole paper entitled "Steering System Centering."

A lot of people are hoping for just a brief, couple of paragraphs that will directly address their particular problem. In those cases, posting the question on a Forum and being provided an answer by numerous informed members is probably their best approach to problem solving.

I would suggest first purchasing a Chassis manual for your year and make of vehicle. Then browsing the internet or posting a question on a forum such as this for particular things to look for, etc.

Jim

[Gregory B.]

Re: '67 telescopic steering column

How far does the 67 telescoping wheel move (forward or backward) from the position of the standard fixed steering wheel? If I remember correctly, on my old 71 it only moved about 1" forward from the standard position which was not very usefull.

[Jim S.]

Re: '67 telescopic steering column

65-68 Telescoping Columns 3.0 inches of travel.

69-70 T&T Columns 2.73 inches - tilt restricted travel a small amount.

71-76 T&T Columns 2.1 inches - I think that a rubber bumper (like a 0.6 inch chunk of garden hose) was placed on the steering shaft to eliminate a metal to metal "clunk" at the end of travel.

77-82 T&T Columns 1.34 inches - Dimmer pivot bulge on column head further restricted telescoping travel.

Jim