69 tilt steering CORRECT?

[Kenny C.]

Hello
So here I am opening a box that I purchased from a Ebay vendor. What I was supposed to be getting was an "NCRS" correct 1969 tilt column completely rebuilt and ready to install. Now forgetting the fact that it looks as if it were painted by a 5 year old with a broom I don't think it is even the correct year. The cast word "Lock" is not the same as my original fixed column. Also the obviously old used switch contacts are not the same. If the part is correct for my March built car then fine I will re finish the paint and move on. However if the column is NOT correct for my year then I will try and return it from whence it came. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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[Jeffrey S.]

Re: 69 tilt steering CORRECT?

Kenny:
Tomorrow I will take a few pictures of the T/T column in my '69. I hope they will help.
Jeff

[Tom L.]

Re: 69 tilt steering CORRECT?

If '69 and '70 are the same, and I believe they are, you have the right part. It matches my '70.

[Jim S.]

Re: 69 tilt steering CORRECT?

On the early 1969 locking T&T columns (7804347) the bowl near the instrument cluster would rotate when you moved the automatic shifter or the manual trans was shifted into reverse. Later in 1969 a plastic stationary shroud was placed over the bowl. The first picture that you posted shows a shroud over the bowl. So the column is for a late 1969 vehicle. The question would be at what date during 1969 production was the shroud implemented. The T&T with shroud drawing was engineering released in October 1968. But that is not the implementation date.

I don't know if Joe Lucia's records would indicate when 7807828 went into production or not.
Jim

[Kenny C.]

Re: 69 tilt steering CORRECT?

Jeffrey
A couple of pictures for comparison would be great. And Joe if your listening your input would be appreciated as well. All the typical indicators on the car typically point to a "Early" car but maybe not early enough for the first design column?
Regards
Kenny

[Joseph K.]

Re: 69 tilt steering CORRECT?

What I am finding out with the 69's is that early and late is dependent on the part your looking to replace. There were several changes to the 69 and the changes occur at different dates. It's not easy with a 69. NCRS members knowledge is the best source.

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: 69 tilt steering CORRECT?

Kenny:
Attached are some pictures. I hope you can see enough detail to help.
Jeff

[Jim S.]

Re: 69 tilt steering CORRECT?

Jeffrey,
Your 1969 T&T column is the early design 7804347 without the plastic bowl cover. (That is why you have the sticker on top of the turn signal switch housing that was applied at St. Louis after I believe the column was painted the interior color.) Sometime during the 1969 model year both Corvette columns (T&T and the standard non-adjustable) were revised with the stationary, plastic, bowl cover added so that you didn't see the shift bowl rotating as you shifted into REVERSE (manual trans) or moved your shifter (auto trans.)

I would guess that someone might be interested in tracking by VIN number the early design (both T&T and the standard) columns with and without the plastic cover over the shift bowl. That would eventually provide a breakpoint date when the cover(s) came on stream.

Also Jeffery, I assume your column was originally red as shown by the area around the ignition key/lock cylinder. Did you mask shift bowl warning sticker to paint the column black?

There were three and possibly four T&T columns during the 1969-70 model years. All had the same CV alpha code although part numbers changed.

7804347 Early T&T Column
No bowl cover (Warning label applied at St. Louis after paint.)
Clamp, nut, and bolt on lower steering shaft with 1/8 to 1/4 gap to lower bearing.
Alpha code label on lower end of column in engine compartment at 6 o'clock.
Original design telescope locking wedge with unique locking rod bumper.
Locking plate assy has insulated face.
Thin rubber square cut ring bumper on upper steering shaft

7807828 Interim?
All parts same as above except.
Bowl Cover added
Telescope Locking Wedge changed, locking rod bumper eliminated.

7808586 Possibly Late 1969 - No engineering information.

7811526 1970
Alpha code still CV but label moved inside driver compartment near lower mounting plate at 12 o'clock.
Clamp, nut, and bolt eliminated from lower strg shaft. No other lower end changes (bearing, adapter, etc).
Plastic c-clip retainer added.
Shaft lock no longer insulated.
Carrier Assy (cancelling cam) changed to go with lock plate change.
Thin rubber square cut ring bumper on upper steering shaft eliminated.

Jim Shea

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: 69 tilt steering CORRECT?

Jim:
You commented that you thought my steering column was originally red. I have wondered why there is red where the key has scratched the column over the years. I purchased this car from the original owner 1 year plus after it was put into service. Even though it was built Oct. '68 (VIN 5854) it was put into service Sep '69 (I have the documentation for this). I have come to believe that perhaps it was a demo or maybe driven by the dealer for the first year. I have never painted this column. It has never been out of the car in the 39 years I have owned it. I always assumed that the primer was red. I suppose it is possible that the dealer replaced the column for the first owner who wanted a T&T column. I don't have the tank sticker so unless there is another way to confirm this I am assuming it came with the car since it is a highly optioned car.
Jeff

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: 69 tilt steering CORRECT?

I should also add that if the dealer DID replace the column for the original owner, by that time the later design would have been the service replacement. This, of course, is only a guess. Any thoughts?
Jeff

[Jim S.]

Re: 69 tilt steering CORRECT?

All I ever remember were black painted or black primer columns. But I guess that it could be red primer.

I assume that in 1969 all Corvette steering columns were painted interior colors at St. Louis. They just weren't all black.

Jim

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: 69 tilt steering CORRECT?

Another thing that leads me to believe that this was not a repainted red column is that if , back then, a red column was repainted would the dealer or painter go to the trouble of finding an original sticker to put on the repainted column? Doesn't seem likely. Maybe the factory ran out of black t&t columns the day they built mine and grabbed a red one, sprayed it black and slapped a label on it. Who knows.
Jeff