Van tilt columns

[sweet70beast]

These things are all over ebay for cheaper than real truck ones. My question is how do you get the thing to bolt up to the steering box? I know that the output shaft on the bottom of a van tilt is bigger than on a truck, so what are you supposed to put on the bottom of these to make them bolt up?

[Arad68]

Check out these links to the truck tech FAQ. They will show you the way.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php?p=1818810

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=133937

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=302488

[70GMCer]

Easy install.......

[Longhorn Man]

I've installed a bunch of these... never had an issue with size.
Shorten the intermidiate shaft... that's the only real mod needed.

[smokekiki]

I am getting ready to pull the van tilt in my suburban out to do some work on it. The head is sloppy and has quite a bit of movement. For any one interested here is a link to the van tilt manual.

http://www.selectric.org/manuals/column/index.html

[Huck]

Shorten intermediate shaft, reposition the neutral safety switch, purchase a harness conversion, replace the turn-tilt levers, the hazard button and the shift lever and no one will know the difference from the cab!

[WIDESIDE72]

I just picked up a van tilt on Screwbay For $100. I just realized that it was sold w/o the intermediate shaft? Can I use the intermediate shaft from my non tilt column. BTW, some of the the links used to describe the wiring and neutral safety relocate are no longer valid. I could not fond anything in the FAQ section... Another BTW, I go tan email that after Oct., Screwbay will no longer allow money orders or personal chacks as payment. Electronic payment only. Just a coincidence that they own Paypal now?

[WIDESIDE72]

I was scouring the local yards the last few weeks in search of the ever elusive VAN tilt with key on the dash. I have come across ALOT of the later model vans with the key on the column.Has anyone here transplanted one of these into a 67-72 truck? I was thinking if someone was going to go custom anyway, why not add some security by adding a locking column to your truck and filling the old keyhole in the dash?

[sweet70beast]

Originally Posted by WIDESIDE72

I just realized that it was sold w/o the intermediate shaft? Can I use the intermediate shaft from my non tilt column.

On the links posted by Arad68 there is a post with a link to http://www.customclassictrucks.com/t...c10/index.html
and in the article I noticed they used an intermedate shaft from a 73-87 truck which answered that question for me.
I to would like to know about the neutral safty switch modification, I hadn't heard of it before.

[Huck]

Early Chev van tilt columns are longer & the placement of their neutral safety switch binds off on the column support bracing on a truck thus you need to reposition this switch. Cut outer column with dremel -weld in a little tab--and re attach for clearnace.
The intermediate shaft is virtually identical between tilt and not tilt but you will need to shorten it for a van tilt. Drill out 2 plastic plugs (sand flat area of shaft to find them) then shorten the shaft by pressing it together.
Most van tilts have a flat connector for the wiring harness while trucks have a 1/2 moon connector. GM offers a conversion harness for this for about $12.
Van tilts typically sell for $100-200. while original truck tilts go for $250.-350. It takes about an hour to convert a van tilt to work identical to a truck tilt.
Most Van columns have a smaller steering wheel, rubber tipped levers, and many have cruse turn signal levers which can be wired into a theft diterrent (ie push the button for start!) Huck

[Ackattack]

bringing this one back up

Originally Posted by Huck

Early Chev van tilt columns are longer & the placement of their neutral safety switch binds off on the column support bracing on a truck thus you need to reposition this switch. Cut outer column with dremel -weld in a little tab--and re attach for clearnace.
The intermediate shaft is virtually identical between tilt and not tilt but you will need to shorten it for a van tilt. Drill out 2 plastic plugs (sand flat area of shaft to find them) then shorten the shaft by pressing it together.
Most van tilts have a flat connector for the wiring harness while trucks have a 1/2 moon connector. GM offers a conversion harness for this for about $12.
Van tilts typically sell for $100-200. while original truck tilts go for $250.-350. It takes about an hour to convert a van tilt to work identical to a truck tilt.
Most Van columns have a smaller steering wheel, rubber tipped levers, and many have cruse turn signal levers which can be wired into a theft diterrent (ie push the button for start!) Huck

I'm working on modifying my van tilt column per the FAQ. I cut the outer housing, and then the inner shifting tube. I got a new neutral safety switch and it has a "slice" in it, where it looks like a tab would go from the inner shifting tube. This part doesn't sit down in the inner shifting tube. You mention something about welding in a tab. Am i missing something here?

BTW I must have gotten an earlier one, cause it has the half moon connector....scored it for $75 at the bone yard.

[Auctioneerhere]

What spline count are the van columns? that never seems to get mentioned & for me it would be helpful.

[Southcity]

I recently had board member 70shortfleet convert a 70's automatic van tilt to manual for my 66 K10 Suburban. He does outstanding work and can customize them any way you like. I cut the original manual steering shaft to desired length, then used a Borg steering coupler (welded to original steering shaft) to join the two together. I have found that in most cases, the spline on the van tilts is 3/4 in. 36-Spline.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/BRG-313400