How to: remove steering column shifter arm for good

[Tagg33]

I have a 84 GMC that was once a column shifted truck. The shifter arm has already been removed from the column but otherwise all the internal parts are the same. I seem to remember an episode of Musclecar on Powerblock TV were Rick showed how to remove the necessary parts and with a little work the column looked like it never had a shifter. Does anyone know what the steps are? How do I remove the linkage arm at the bottom of the column. I attached a pic of the bottom of my column you can see a tensioner is being used to keep it from rattling and moving.

[ostncoln]

i think i saw that episode. i know he used jb weld on it somehow

[smashingchuck]

I cut mine clean off.

[Tagg33]

You cut off the linkage arm? Do the leftover parts in the column rattle? Or is there more to remove?

[smashingchuck]

Originally Posted by Tagg33

You cut off the linkage arm? Do the leftover parts in the column rattle? Or is there more to remove?

yes, and welded a piece of sheet metal over the hole. and no they don't rattle at all. I never even thought about it again until this thread came up. I did this 8 years ago.

[HotRodYJ]

How are you guys cleaning up the shifter sleeve inside the truck?

[Tagg33]

Smashingchuck: I am going to be welding up all the holes in my firewall and removing the big bracket around the brake booster and column. What did you do on your truck to clean up the firewall where the column comes thru? I just went thru your build thread again and your firewall looks amazing.

[smashingchuck]

Originally Posted by Tagg33

Smashingchuck: I am going to be welding up all the holes in my firewall and removing the big bracket around the brake booster and column. What did you do on your truck to clean up the firewall where the column comes thru? I just went thru your build thread again and your firewall looks amazing.

Thanks Man! I cut the whole area out right from where the two pieces of sheet metal overlap all the way down to the floor, and welded in a piece of 1/8" steel. I used the same method on the other side. All other holes were done separately, one at a time.

Originally Posted by HotRodYJ

How are you guys cleaning up the shifter sleeve inside the truck?

Haven't gotten that far yet... but I don't think It's anything a little grinding and filler won't fix.