Cracked column: rebuild or replace?

I would just find a used column to swap into it. Put a column lock on it. Leave the door unlocked so they don't break the window or door locks. For a safety switch just remove the coil or pull the power wire for the HEI if you have one.. They will get it to crank but never start and won't go trying to look under the hood. Could also take the battery out of it if it sits alot.

Many times it is more than just kids looking to joyride. Having an old truck in many areas does not raise suspicion by LE, it is just an old work truck. People steal these and then do a burglary using the truck. This makes old beat up trucks a target, not to mention an old beat up truck is the last vehicle you would put in the garage, so it is easier to steal.
Believe me, a 19 yo kid with an old truck doesn't want the police coming to him because someone IDed the truck. He will be the first suspect and maybe the only one.

KC John said:

Looking for some guidance, and not sure where to put this. Here because it's steering or in electrical because of ignition choices.

Some dirtbags recently tried to steal our '74 C20. Cracked the steering column and broke the rack gear. Fortunately it was freezing that night so it wouldn't start (or maybe run). Now I'm trying to dig out of this hole before moving back to the other issues. Thanks to Raider's post about his whacked column rebuild it seems that I could probably source the parts I need to rebuild it...but then I'd be left right back where I was. A truck that's easy to steal. I'm working on this with my son and he took the first attempt pretty hard. So, I'm looking for advice.

Rebuild it like it was? $100-$200?
Or put in a new column w/o ignition and try to go with an "in dash" ignition? $350-$400?

Neither of these will be easy for us. We're new to the game. Option 2 becomes that much more difficult because of the electrical. But does it make the truck even a little more secure? She's just a rusty old heap. Maybe not worth the money I've already put in and however much more there is to spend. But the time spent with the boy I can't really replace.

Appreciate any help you can offer. Warnings about a particular choice. Heads-up about things I don't even know to consider.

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Look on Ebay, I picked a good used tilt column for my 84 GMC K25 for $80, I think they are all Saginaw's and as long as it's for a square, you should be good. Only difference is tilt or straight. I installed a $100 alarm on my truck to give it some protection

Thanks for the input, @Magna86 @M151USMC . I'll be checking into replacements, especially if they can come in at that price. I'm still kicking around my options. Terrible about making decisions...good about making terrible decisions. So.

good point @rt66paul That's why she was sitting outside to become a target. At this point, I'm just going to see about getting her running so I can get her home. Then someone's car will have to come out of the garage. At least until I can get that column secured.

Good luck to you too @Raider L I'll be keeping an eye on your thread.

KC John said:

Thanks @Goldie Driver I had considered that one, but not sure I can make it work. Went to a local yard to get replacement glass for the driver door. None of the trucks in that company's (two) yards have columns. And going that way still puts me back where I already was - truck that's easy-ish to steal? Outside of the cracked part of the column I think ours is in decent shape. We do have tilt now. It's something I'd like to keep. The replacement w/o ignition has tilt I believe. Does that idea, swapping in a new column and going to in-dash ignition create way too many problems I'm unaware of?

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No way to stop a determined thief, you can look into a column lock. It'll at least make it harder for them. Unfortunately, the nature of old trucks makes them pretty easy to steal.

Roger that @Knight84 I'm looking to deter the opportunistic ones. That's another mention of the column lock, so I'll keep it in mind.

They are harder to steal when you disassemble the truck into many pieces and make it non functional..

I would go with a stock column, relocating the ignition to the dash does not really solve anything and could potentially make it easier to get, as the key in the dash would likely eliminate the steering lock, and it can be easier to hotwire off a dash switch. Discrete kill switch would be my choice for safeguarding.

I've seen people also run a chain from the hood down to the frame rail with a padlock to keep the hood locked too.

Thanks for the input @legopnuematic It was mostly together and still non functional so I guess I should be thankful that I don't know much!! Also, I see you're from MO. Good to hear a local voice.

That seems to be the recurring suggestion. I guess I just can't get myself past the notion that going to dash would be easier to steal than what we already have. We found a heavy pair of pliers in the yard by the truck after the fact. Is it just a heavy pair of pliers and 30 seconds to crack the column and be gone? And I'm no thief but isn't there a way with a screwdriver to just go in through the tumbler and defeat it? So the steering lock didn't help here? I'm really not trying to be argumentative with anyone, so I hope it doesn't come across that way. I know I'm not smart enough about this stuff to see all the issues, which is why I'm here. I guess I'm just thinking that if I could remove that really inviting image of a stock, crackable, ignition column and at least make them have to look for their opportunity...they would consider passing it by. Dash ignition, plus kill switch? I don't know.

I really do appreciate everyone's help. And I think it's looking like I'm going to back to original. I just didn't want to find myself back in the same position. Maybe lightning won't strike twice.

KC John said:

Thanks for the input @legopnuematic It was mostly together and still non functional so I guess I should be thankful that I don't know much!! Also, I see you're from MO. Good to hear a local voice.

That seems to be the recurring suggestion. I guess I just can't get myself past the notion that going to dash would be easier to steal than what we already have. We found a heavy pair of pliers in the yard by the truck after the fact. Is it just a heavy pair of pliers and 30 seconds to crack the column and be gone? And I'm no thief but isn't there a way with a screwdriver to just go in through the tumbler and defeat it? So the steering lock didn't help here? I'm really not trying to be argumentative with anyone, so I hope it doesn't come across that way. I know I'm not smart enough about this stuff to see all the issues, which is why I'm here. I guess I'm just thinking that if I could remove that really inviting image of a stock, crackable, ignition column and at least make them have to look for their opportunity...they would consider passing it by. Dash ignition, plus kill switch? I don't know.

I really do appreciate everyone's help. And I think it's looking like I'm going to back to original. I just didn't want to find myself back in the same position. Maybe lightning won't strike twice.

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It's sad you have to worry about **** like this, but it's the way of the world.

My buddy years ago had a really nice '79 Ford F-350 4x4.

Always pulled the coil wire off when he parked after it was stolen once and recovered.

He worked at an auto parts store- and, forgot to do it once.

GONE.

The 73 thru 79 Fords had the key on the dash and no steering or shift lock on the column.

Hot wire it and go.

Its not like GM and Saginaw did not try to make them hard to steal but rather that there are too many creative ******** that find ways to get money by taking other people's **** as opposed to working for it.

I have had enough stolen from me in my life that I would not have any qualms about capping somebody's ass for stealing my **** , unless they were a teenager that maybe could straighten their life out.

The issue is the legal ramifications, but I would probably be tempted to just use my legal shield hours I have paid for and banked since it is legal in Texas to stop a thief with deadly force if you believe it is the only way to save your property.

Hopefully it never gets to that...

yeah, hopefully it never does @Goldie Driver

I don't know why it's such a bother for me on this one beyond the basic "hey, that's my ****." The truck has no family history, and it's not worth the money I'm putting into it. At this point it's about the boy's reaction. So, I'll chart a course forward, however long that takes. And we'll see where we end up.

@KC John,

John, what you are going through right now is shock. Your feelings a perfectly normal, feelings of desperation and fear. You've been violated, your truck was attempted to be stolen. Some stranger has come and tried to take your belongings. The fact that you were made a victim of societies decay and people's ill intention towards you, just joe blow not bothering anyone, an innocent bystander. You're feeling, why me? Maybe not out loud but all these emotions are flooding to the forefront. Just fix your column so you can drive your truck, but don't do anything about security right now because you are to upset to think straight about what you need to do. It's always best to not make important decisions when you are maxed out emotionally.

All the above guys have good ideas, I'm thinking seriously about some of their suggestions myself because I've not thought about securing my truck, and mine has been attempted to be stolen once myself, I should be thinking about it and I'm not. But your solution may take a different path for your situation. Just wait until you calm down and then secure it. Right now wrap a damn tow chain around the whole cab, loop it through the door handles. That would scare the **** out of any would be thief. But wait until you are calmer about being violated, then do whatever you need to do.

Great advice @Raider L From you and everyone. I'm going to get it running. Get the column fixed. Maybe put one of those collars on it and reevaluate it all in good time.

Good people here. I appreciate it.