Jim Shea steering column question

[Terry M.]

Jim,
It looks like your papers on the Corvettefaq site only go to 1982. I have a student with a 1986 Corvette who wishes to change the steering column. He has another to swap in, but he wants to swap the ignition switch from one to the other so the original key works.

Besides the FSM (Factory Service Manual) is there any other source of step by step information?

[Jim S.]

Re: Jim Shea steering column question

I'm only an "expert" on the C3 steering columns. I believe that your 1986 vehicle has the VATS ignition system. Your ignition key has a pellet and the vehicle system reads the resistance and will only start the car if the resistance matches. So the new column going into the car has to be a VATS steering column as well. If it is VATS column, you can probably swap it.

I would think that the Chevrolet Chassis Service manual for the 1986 era would have a lot of steering column info. Also Chiltons and other service manuals might help as well.

Jim

[Thomas N.]

Re: Jim Shea steering column question

Terry, I used to repair/ rebuild columns in theft recovery cars around that time. If I remember correctly the only difference from a earlier column without VATS was a two wire plug coming off the ignition switch. This wire fed down the column with the other wires. Tom

[Terry M.]

Re: Jim Shea steering column question

Thank you both. I'll reinforce what I already told my student -- buy the manual.

[Thomas N.]

Re: Jim Shea steering column question

Terry, a few more things I thought of. A Steering wheel lock plate remover and installer will be needed. I believe Autozone does the free rental. A resistor the same ohms as the key can be installed to bypass the vats. The ignition cylinder if a original should have the key cut code stamped into it. Seems like a lot of work to keep an original key unless a key is not with the column. If the key is with the column, you can cut a key with the original resistance pellet if needed.

[Terry M.]