1966 Steering

[pmeyers]

I am in the final stages of restoring my 1966 C10 and my grandson is excited to drive it during his senior year in high school. He is helping me to get her on the road again. I am putting in three point seat belts to improve safety, but I am concerned about the potential danger posed by the steering column during a frontal crash and the fact that it is not collapsible. Would appreciate some advice about when the steering columns became collapsible and is there a year that would be a direct bolt in to my 66? My truck was originally a three speed, but I converted it to a 4 speed about 30 years ago. I have seen the ididit's advertised, but they are well over my budget. Any help would be appreciated.

[Clyde65]

I used a 67-72 column with the collapsible intermediate shaft in my 65.

[pmeyers]

Thanks Clyde65. Was that a straight bolt in or did you have to make some modifications?

[AcampoDave]

I put the internal column rod and bearings from a 67-72 into my 1964 tube. (I wanted to keep my 3 on the tree) then bought the collapsible D shaft and two universal joints from Ididit. ( bought thru Summit) For the lower joint I went with the one that had the built in vibration dampener so as to ditch the old rag joint. I did call Ididit for some tech support first and found them to be helpful

[vince1]

I got everything from a 67 and the shaft fit right into the 66 column. With the bottom piece it was the same length as the 66 solid 1 piece shaft. I also took the PS box and mounted it with the required plate for offset and reinforcement. Captainfab here makes and sells them. With PS you will get a lot more life out of the steering wheel.

I will be changing out the 4 sp for an auto and I have bought a tilt column from an 80 van that I hope I can use for the gear selection. The van columns did not have the key switch.
If I ever get that done the 66 column can go to market.

[pmeyers]

I have to do a little more study on the anatomy of the steering shaft and column to better understand how they fit. I've not worked on one before. Sounds like though I can look for a 67 collapsible shaft and it will fit my 66 column with modifications. Want to keep it as simple as possible, but make the truck safer. Heading for the junk yard, easy to identify a collapsible shaft or will everything from 67-72 be collapsible?

[vince1]

67 on were all collapsible. I was told by a junk yard guy that a 67 shaft fits and I can verify that. It takes the same spring set up at the bottom. I'm not sure about 68 and newer. I used to have a 68 but don't remember what it looks like.

[pmeyers]

Thanks vince1, that helps a lot.

[pmeyers]

So I ran across a craigslist ad for a complete 67 steering column with a steering wheel that came out of a four on the floor which is what I have. Are there any modifications installing the whole steering column in my 66?

[AcampoDave]

Are you staying with the manual gearbox? If so the no modifications should be needed however, if you look on the underside of the column below the dash, you will see there are 2 small bolts holding the tube to the e-brake bracket. There will be no threaded holes on the 67 column for those guys. The easy fix is to use a sturdy hose clamp to cinch the e- brake bracket to the column tube

[pmeyers]

Yes, I'm staying with the manual gearbox. That's good information about the e-brake handle. Thanks AcampoDave. Going to run down to LA tomorrow and look at the steering column from Craigslist