Found a factory tilt steering column with wheel!

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MisterB

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It's off a '76 suburban. I have an' 80 GMC K2500.

I sure think this'll plug and play, right? I wasn't in a spot where I could do a whole lot of research, so I just bought it for $32.
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MisterB

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That’s a deal easy swap :happy107:
Glad to hear it. I figured I better just get it while it was in front of me. I unbolted and took everything I could

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bucket

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You will need the steering shaft to go along with it. It has a splined end rather than the later hollow "double d" type.
 

MisterB

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You will need the steering shaft to go along with it. It has a splined end rather than the later hollow "double d" type.
Didn't I take that with me, as pictured above?

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bluex

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Didn't I take that with me, as pictured above?

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Ya it appears to be there. You should be good to go. Just swap it all....
 

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Whenever someone says "easy swap"...run like hell! I'm not saying it's not a good deal but nothing is ever easy. I recently completely rebuilt my steering column, wing-windows, transfer case, air conditioning, axles....

Not a one of them damn things was an easy swap.

Now that the learning curve is behind me, I'm hoping in the future the swap is at least "easier".
 

CSFJ

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I fumbled my way through almost the identical swap when I was 17. Put a tilt column from a '76 into my '79. The only hitch I recall, had something to do with the ignition switch at the base of the column. The '79 wasn't originally a tilt truck, so, iirc, I had to get a new switch for a '79 with tilt. I can't recall if the one on the '76 column had a different plug, was damaged, or missing, but I found out pretty quick, that the non-tilt switch worked in the opposite direction of the tilt switch.
 

MisterB

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I wanted to give an update to this thread so anybody searching in the future will get my resolution to this.

I ended up doing the swap, and here's a summary:

Swapping from an 80 non tilt column to a 76 column with tilt would be a straight swap, provided the donor tilt is in perfect condition, you have the shaft all the way to the rag joint, AND you have the keys to the 76 column.

The key lock switch is different from tilt to non tilt. I figured I'd just use my non tilt lock switch in the tilt column, but discovered quickly that you either need keys to the tilt column, or you need to buy a new lock switch for tilt columns.

I went ahead and replaced all the wiring on the tilt colum, repainted it, and also had to replace a horn button part that was broken and specific to tilt columns. Also! The ignition switch down on the column is different for tilt columns. If your donor tilt column came with one, you're good to go but if not you'll need to buy one for tilt columns, since it won't swap over from the non tilt, and last not not least the plugs go in to the ignition switch differently than non tilt. It was a jigsaw puzzle trying to figure out how they plug in, but I finally got it.

I'm pleased with the results, even though in my situation it was anything but plug and play
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FireTruck1984

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Yes looks really good, Fine job !
 

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