Found a tilt steering column

[Chris64]

So FB marketplace came through for me - maybe.

A guy had an 88 tilt steering column from a c-30 that looks mostly intact. Some places say it should be able to bolt right up as a direct replacement for my non-tilt 74. Wiring is another story.

The harness on the column looks very similar to what I have on my 74. It also has a whole other harness and module dangling down.
The blinker has wiper controls as well as high beam flash - I'm not sure if my truck has either of those but I don't think so.
There is no key for it so I'm hoping there will be a manual release the key housing but it appears I may need a lock smith for this.
There's 2 mystery mechanical arms going down the steering shaft that I haven't figured out yet. One is connected to another mystery electrical thing
There's a white box at the base with some gears and connectors on it. I'm guessing this is for full self driving

I was going to start pulling it apart to clean it up and check it out but I figured I would do some internet research first before making a new mess. The new blinker has wiper controls. I was planning on trying to swap it with my old blinker.

Any advice on this project before I dive into it?


Here's a pic of the various arms and wires

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[Strick]

The 88 has wiper controls on it but it will still work for your truck. You'll just flip your ignition switch harness upside down to plug in. You can even make a jumper harness from the floor dimmer to the column & use it too.

HS

 

[edgephoto]

The curved switch at the base of the column is the neutral safety switch. The switch mounted on the tube lengthwise is the ignition switch. The long thin black connector is the turn signal switch. The black box is the wiper delay module for trucks with intermittent wipers.

Without the key getting the lock cylinder out will be tricky but not impossible. If you have other GM keys, try them. Many times the old lock cylinders are so worn any GM key will turn them.

On your 74 the wiper switch is in the dash and your high beam switch is on the floor. In 1988 high beams and wipers were on the turn signal stalk.

I highly recommend replacing the three bearings in the column and taking it apart far enough to Loctite the bolts that loosen up on every GM/Ford tilt column. You will need three tools, steering wheel puller, lock plate depressor and tilt pivot pin puller. These tools are super cheap on Amazon and local parts stores.

You most likely will need to replace the turn signal switch and ignition switch to match your year.

I currently have my column 100% disassembled for cleaning, new bearings, new ditched and painting. I have done many columns in my day. Been a number of years since I had one apart. Many people struggle with them, so if you are not comfortable you might consider one of the services that does them for you. Might be money well spent. There are a few YouTube videos that get into it in detail. Watch them and decide.

 

[Chris64]

Good tips - I'm way more likely to try and figure it out than spend money. So it sounds like this will work for me. The seat cushion is very new and puts the wheel right in my lap so that was always going to bug me.

So the blinker has wiper hi/lo/inter - there's also a slide and momentary on the end and a push button on the very end. What are those for? Cruise control maybe?

 

[bluex]

The other thing you'll also need is the steering shaft. Your 74 is splined an that 88 will be a DD style.

 

[Camar068]

https://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/wiki/images/d/d6/Jazzman_Steering_Rack_Rebuild.pdf

good place to start

 

[Chris64]

The other thing you'll also need is the steering shaft. Your 74 is splined an that 88 will be a DD style.

That sounds like it will be hard to get my hands on.

 

[bluex]

That sounds like it will be hard to get my hands on.

The steering box end is the same so the c30 should work if you get it with the column.

If not new replacements are available, a used jeep cherokee one will work or you can buy universal joints an the shaft an make your own.

 

[Steelbuddha]

The curved switch at the base of the column is the neutral safety switch. The switch mounted on the tube lengthwise is the ignition switch. The long thin black connector is the turn signal switch. The black box is the wiper delay module for trucks with intermittent wipers.

Without the key getting the lock cylinder out will be tricky but not impossible. If you have other GM keys, try them. Many times the old lock cylinders are so worn any GM key will turn them.

On your 74 the wiper switch is in the dash and your high beam switch is on the floor. In 1988 high beams and wipers were on the turn signal stalk.

I highly recommend replacing the three bearings in the column and taking it apart far enough to Loctite the bolts that loosen up on every GM/Ford tilt column. You will need three tools, steering wheel puller, lock plate depressor and tilt pivot pin puller. These tools are super cheap on Amazon and local parts stores.

You most likely will need to replace the turn signal switch and ignition switch to match your year.

I currently have my column 100% disassembled for cleaning, new bearings, new ditched and painting. I have done many columns in my day. Been a number of years since I had one apart. Many people struggle with them, so if you are not comfortable you might consider one of the services that does them for you. Might be money well spent. There are a few YouTube videos that get into it in detail. Watch them and decide.

This times 100. Do all your overhauling while the "new" column is on the bench, and be sure to hit all the usual failure points. Otherwise you will be removing the column again sooner than you want to. Good luck with the job.

 

[edgephoto]

This times 100. Do all your overhauling while the "new" column is on the bench, and be sure to hit all the usual failure points. Otherwise you will be removing the column again sooner than you want to. Good luck with the job.

Exactly my point. My steering column is apart on my bench. Body shop painted the housings and I am replacing bearings and switches.

Trying to hunt down the column shifter. Mine is rusty. 1987 V3500 auto. If anyone has one hit me up.

 

[Chris64]

Yeah it's not getting installed any time soon. No rush. As for the key, I can't even push the key into the existing tumbler. That killed my momentum on that . It's either got a broken off key it (best case scenario) or someone tried to jimmy it, or maybe just full of gunk.

So if I connect the wiper on the blinker - what do you do with the one on the dash?

I'm too busy welding body panels and warping metal for this project right now anyway

I'll keep an eye out for the missing steering arm and while I'm at it get a 2wd steering box for a cross over steering.