column swap

[nomrlz]

just wanna be sure before i purchase this. any issues swappin in an 88-98 column in the 66? i'll also be bolting in an 86 front end for pdb/ps using some cpt fab brackets. i know the two will hafta be mated but just making sure there isn't sumptin weird with these. thx

[tincan1966]

If I am not mistaken the one problem I have had in the past is the newer columns do not fit in the dash cutout very well, and the overall length is different. BUT any conversion can be done,depends on if you're looking for a bolt in or not.

[Shorty Cox]

I agree with "tincan". With enough money and a big hammer, any conversion will work. But, without sounding like a "smart@$$" I always question the purpose of such a swap. The stock column fits and looks great.

Shorty

[nomrlz]

i'm goin from the three on the tree to an auto od. plus need the cruise controls since i'll be putting cruise on it. kinda like the fairly fresh 283 works fine but it's still coming out too .

[hugger6933]

I will assume thatyou are saying 88-98 chevy truck. There are two basic columns used then the 88-94 were basically the same as were the 95-98 they were square bodied with plastic surround and had air bags. The body style was mostly the same thru that run with minor int and grille revisions, but the columns will be 88-94 95-98 hope that helps. amotorhome tilt or a van tilt from the 70's up till early 80's for the van, and later for the motorhome they will have factory look to them once installed

[406 Q-ship]

If your set on using a column from a 1988-94, use the column from the 1994. In 1994 GM added a metal reinforcement plate inside the plastic column to make them harder to steal. The columns from 1978 to 1993 (ones with the highbeam switch in the column) are so crappy that any 5 year old punk with a screwdriver can steal the truck. Me personally, if have to have all the stuff in the column, I would get a Flaming River or a Ididit column for the security. Hell if I owned a 88-93 GM car that I wanted to keep I would change the column to a Flaming River to lose the piece of crap GM plastic column.

[scottofksu]

Would this move your ignition to the column as well?

[nomrlz]

thanks for all the info. a buddy of mine has the column and never used it. i can get it for a decent price is why i was goin with this. i originally was lookin for a van column so no need for the ignition on the column. finally decided just easier to get one like this for tilt, cruise, etc. a lil fab work is what i expected. i just didn't wanna find out there was sumptin that was really gonna screw it up. this is goin to be a true daily driver so i don't wanna buy a ton of fancy aftermarket stuff just to drive to work till the kid gets his license and drives the wheels off it.

[E911manager]

You may take a look at my build page. I am using a column from the 1994 Caprice. I am not sure if the truck columns are the same or not. The caprice column fits the dash and also extends through the firewall just about right.

406 Q-ship has excellant points and unless it is pretty close to free then spending a few extra dollars on a flaming river or other is a good investment. They look very nice. My column matched the wiring harness and got lucky that it fit..