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Swap non tilt steering column to tilt 75 Hatchback

PostPosted: Thu Mar 08, 2018 11:23 pm
by Vega2008
My stock 1975 Chevy Vega steering column is a non-tilt unit I have the key in the column and my car is a floor shift not an automatic.
The manual steering box is the smaller unit, and IS NOT a power steering box which is fine with me...less things to fix or replace.
I would like to just swap out my stock non-tilt steering column with a tilt steering column and keep the NON power steering box, and the original lower steering intermediate shaft.
My lower original manual steering column intermediate shaft does not have any rag joints on it, it is a stock and is collapsible. This uses a bolt and clamp to secure it to the steering column side....not a Rag joint. Can anyone recommend the best Tilt steering column for me to use? I would prefer to go all new parts and I want the keyed steering column (floor shift style).

The right length would be helpful too if you already have the information.

If somebody has already swapped before, can you tell me what you bought as the replacement and where you got it from?

And if you had to swap any intermediate steering column parts to the steering box what you used...including any part numbers?

Thanks!

Vega2008

Re: Swap non tilt steering column to tilt 75 Hatchback

PostPosted: Fri Mar 09, 2018 10:44 am
by jpb04619
i swapped one into my 75 notchback [southgate car]...straight bolt in but the car had a larger steering shaft , had to use a different rag joint...plugged right in , no problems

john b

Re: Swap non tilt steering column to tilt 75 Hatchback

PostPosted: Sun Mar 11, 2018 1:54 pm
by Smiley
75 to 80 H-body tilt will bolt in from the firewall back but you might have to make the shaft from the firewall to the small steering box.
Aftermarket will require more fabrication.

Re: Swap non tilt steering column to tilt 75 Hatchback

PostPosted: Thu May 24, 2018 4:13 am
by Vega2008
Thanks for the replies you guys. I tried locating a Vega tilt column, the only place I could locate one was from uneedapart.com they wanted 700.00 plus shipping for a used column. I told him to stick it up his you know what and went aftermarket. So I guess it is going to be fabrication time to get the support under the column to work...figure out a support at the firewall and then do some ujoints and a way to let the intermediate shaft telescope for front end collisions...just in case. Last thing I want is to eat the steering column if it gets crunched up front. I'll figure it out, but I appreciate the replies. Now how do I get the column out of the car? Looks like it's all one long part from other manual non tilt columns I see online every now and then.

Re: Swap non tilt steering column to tilt 75 Hatchback

PostPosted: Thu May 24, 2018 8:21 am
by cosvega76
I think I have an extra tilt column. It's not pretty, but I think it's all there. Flaming River has male and female "double-D" shaft you can make a collapsible column shaft out of.

If you're interested in the tilt column, I see you're just northeast of KC, I'm northwest of St Louis.


Chuck

Re: Swap non tilt steering column to tilt 75 Hatchback

PostPosted: Fri May 25, 2018 4:14 am
by Vega2008
Hi Chuck, I actually have a new tilt steering column I bought off eBay. It has a double D on the end of the column. Looks like it has the correct wiring connection harness. However It does not have a way of bolting on the original under dash mounting bracket yet...and there is no plate at the end of it to bolt up to the firewall yet...the biggest question I have at this point is how to get the original column out of the car. I am going to assume I need to unbolt the splined end from the steering box, and try to find bolts that hold it to the firewall plate, undo the wiring harness unbolt the bracket from the bottom of the dash and pull it out through the inside of the car...I think. I don't know for sure since I have no manual with instructions for removing it. I wasn't sure if I could separate the lower intermediate shaft from the column, first or even if I can do that. Was hoping to get some information on the process to make it as Painless as possible. I appreciate your letting me know about your column, but I really wanted to go with the new column to possibly prevent the common issues of the tilt assembly bolts from coming loose and having a wobbling effect in the column...plus having new key and lock and wiring. The column I bought was advertised to work for a Chevy Vega...it has what looks like a block mounted on it for some kind of neutral safety switch...it has a rod along the column into that electrical connection that goes forward into the tilt section. I may not even need that part of the column to use it. The column is for a floor shift and comes with all new turn signal and tilt handles and emergency switch button. The new column was affordable compared to the rip off column from uneedapart.com which they wanted 700.00 plus shipping for...and would most likely have needed to be gutted and rebuilt with new parts.

Re: Swap non tilt steering column to tilt 75 Hatchback

PostPosted: Fri May 25, 2018 8:16 am
by cosvega76
Yup, that's pretty much it - the shaft is pretty much one piece from the wheel to the gearbox, except for the collapsible section in the engine compartment. There are three screws at the firewall on the inside and the two nuts under the dash.

The factory tilt uses a rag joint at the base of the column at the firewall where the lower shaft bolts to.


Chuck

Re: Swap non tilt steering column to tilt 75 Hatchback

PostPosted: Fri May 25, 2018 9:55 am
by Vega2008
Thanks for confirming that for me very much appreciated!