Thread: camaro steering column in my 35?

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i'm looking at seering columns...the flaming river tilt column with the key looks nice, but not for $500 . i have a column from a 97 camaro...any idea if it would work? i was thinking it might be too long, but haven't looked too close yet since i don't have the column here. what would be the ideal length for my 35 coupe? would i run into problems finding a 'hot rod type' steering wheel for it?

i wouldn't be crazy about having to use the key with the chip, but i also dont know if i could gut the column and not have to worry about any of the modern tech issues.

any ideas?

find an s10 they work great on just about anything.

35 I bought a column out of a full size pick up with the plans of shortening it. Some one i know did this in a 30 Ply Cpe . Local hot rod shop here also said they have been useing front wheel drive columns they are like 30 inches long . I may look into something like that too just to test fit and see .

that column will work just fine . you'll still need some shaft and u joints to connect to either a vega style or mustang II steering gear

Hey 35, I've installed an 87 Camaro column in my 37 Ford. I don't know the differences between 87 & 97 columns but mine is going to work nicely. It is roughly 30" long and since it is a "collaspible" column, I was able to shorten it an inch or so but placing a 2x4 on the shaft end and gently whacking it with a hammer to collapse both the shaft and the housing to the length I wanted. The 87 column also has a firewall mounting collar which I was able to modify to conform to my big block firewall. If yours doesn't have this collar, you may not need to shorten the column to fit your dash at the right place.

Here's the only pic I have left of my fabrication process. The other's were lost when my hard drive cratered. Rats!

Hope this helps....

thanks everyone for the replys.

randyr- im not sure what the difference is b/w an '87 and '97 column either, but I also have that collar for the firewall. is it safe to shorten it on purpose like that? i assume its designed to be collapsible in the event of an accident right? the '87 doesn't use a chip in the key right? is there any anti theft issues or any problems with the stock column wiring that you have run into? what steering wheel are you using?

i am using the engine that went with this column and the computer has the anti thef edited out so whether or not i use the keys with the chip in it shouldn't matter right?

Originally Posted by 35fordcoupe

thanks everyone for the replys.

randyr- im not sure what the difference is b/w an '87 and '97 column either, but I also have that collar for the firewall. is it safe to shorten it on purpose like that? i assume its designed to be collapsible in the event of an accident right? the '87 doesn't use a chip in the key right? is there any anti theft issues or any problems with the stock column wiring that you have run into? what steering wheel are you using?

i am using the engine that went with this column and the computer has the anti thef edited out so whether or not i use the keys with the chip in it shouldn't matter right?

I assume it's safe to shorten it like that. I learned how to do it on another forum. I was thrilled that I didn't have to resort to cutting the column to shorten it. I didn't collapse it all the way to the bottom. My guess is that the collapsible steering column was designed to go with the "crumple zones" on the fenders & frames of the newer cars in case of front-end collision. We don't have "crumple zones" on our cars, thus a collapsible steering column isn't going to help that much in a head on collision....which we hope & pray never happens to anyone! If you're still using the stock firewall, you may not need to shorten it.

I don't have mine wired up yet but I will probably incorporate some kind of kill switch or other anti theft device into the system when I get that far along. As for the chip in your keys, I don't know anything about that.

yea since the column wouldn't need to collapse in our cars i wouldn't think pushing it in a little would hurt as long as the column stays solid and doesn't try to collapse on it own. i have a small block firewall so i'll check the fit.

so to collapse it you just put the shaft on a 2x4 and tapped the top of the column? does it require a lot of force or just a few taps? thanks

Originally Posted by 35fordcoupe

yea since the column wouldn't need to collapse in our cars i wouldn't think pushing it in a little would hurt as long as the column stays solid and doesn't try to collapse on it own. i have a small block firewall so i'll check the fit.

so to collapse it you just put the shaft on a 2x4 and tapped the top of the column? does it require a lot of force or just a few taps? thanks

Your column is like mine where the section with the lower mounting collar fits up inside the next section of the housing right? If so, there's a retaining clip on the bottom end that holds the end bearing in place. I removed that and took the bearing out. Mark the housing below where the two sections join together so you can tell how much it moves. I stood the column on end on another block of wood so as not to damage the threads on the steering wheel end. If you still have the steeing wheel on it, that step wouldn't be required, just stand it up on the steering wheel with the tilt mechanism straight. Then placea 2x4 (or block of wood of your choice) on end of the housing and begin tapping with a hammer. Work your way around the housing to keep the movement even. The amount of force will be determined by what kind of movement you see with your marks. Be careful to hit the block squarely so as not to bend your housing end. When you achieve the desired housing length, place the block on the end of the shaft itself and whack it to the desired length. Re-install your bearing and clip on the end and you're done. I'm not exactly sure but I think there's approximately 3-5" of collapsibility on these columns. I hope that makes sense......lol...

As for the type of steering wheel you asked about earlier, most all the aftermarket steering wheel companies offer adapters to put any kind a wheel you want on it. Initially, mine will have a Grant leather wrapped wheel until I find one I like better.

I was set on using this column until someone advised me that using a 70's GM column would be easier due to the wiring. I'm not real sure why that would be easier other than the fact there are less wires on the old ones...seems to me I could use the new one and just ignore the un needed wires, but maybe thats just me being naive? I also don't plan on doing much of the wiring so i don't know. can anyone shed some light? thanks

The 97 will have the airbag stuff in it and might be a lot more bulky then the earlier one.. That would be my apprehension on it..I like the 78-81 G body or S10 units myself...they can be shortened without a lot of hassle..

I used a 70's Camaro column in my 36 Plymouth. It works OK. The only problem I remember is with the rod (stiff wire) that runs from the key to the actual switch that is mounted lower on the column. I originally wired it using a wiring diagram from a motor manual that identified each wire by color.

i have a lead on an '80 camaro column...i think i'll just buy that and sell the 97 column. if nothing else i will have the cleaner looking turn signal and tilt levers.

if i wanted cruise control what is the easiest way to add it with an old column? with the '97 column i might have been able to figure out how to wire it to the stock controls.

The Astro van column already connects to a shaft with U-jojnts, you might want to look at one of those.