True Connections

This Month we are going to discuss tilt steering columns for 1964-1972 Chevelles and El Caminos. The tilt columns for 64 and 65 were the same. The floor shift tilt had a smooth collar while the column shift tilt had a gear indicator mounted on the top that lit up and had a pointer behind it. The 1966 tilt column had a larger diameter on the upper part of the mast jacket and for a gear indicator, the column shift tilt had a wire that ran into the dash just like the straight columns did. All Chevelle tilts from 1964-1966 used a turn signal switch that was mounted half way down the column and was actuated by a cable that ran up the column and into a cam controlled by the turn signal lever. This setup was not without its problems, and finding replacement parts used to be difficult. Now that both the switch and cable are reproduced, many Chevelle and El Camino owners can start using their turn signals again. There were two different turn signal switches for the standard columns. One was stamped Guide and was entirely made of plastic, the other was a BPC and had a plastic upper and a cast metal lower. Both switches are available reproduction and come with the upper bearing installed just like factory. For now, the lower bearing for 1964-1966 columns are still available, but for some reason people get suckered into using a bronze bushing that is being reproduced. We’ve recently taken a look at these, and I must recommend staying away from them. That bushing tends to get stuck on the shaft and starts to wear into the plastic bearing retainer which you cannot get new ones and used ones are usually cracked. My recommendation – do it right the first time, use a roller bearing.

The 1967 standard and tilt columns had a lower bowl that was cut to match the dash and was the first year that a 4way hazard switch was part of the turn signal switch. It was also the first year that GM utilized a collapsible shaft and mast jacket, which prevented the column from impaling the driver during a frontal collision. The 1967 tilt was designed for a turn signal switch mounted right under the steering wheel like a normal steering column would be. In fact, the 1967-1968 tilt columns used the same turn signal switch that the straight columns used. But again there were two different switches. The easiest way to tell them apart is that the Delco switch used an actuating cam that was a horse shoe shape, while the Boyne switch had an actuating cam that made a complete circle.

The 1968-72 columns used an intermediate steering shaft that ran down to the gear box and on the column shift models they used a cable that ran into the dash to run the gear shift indicator. The 1968 Chevelles and El Caminos had the ignition switch in the dash but in 1969-1972 the ignition switch was mounted to the side of the column actuated by a rod coming off the lock cylinder. The 1969-1972 tilts were all the same and they also used the same turn signal switch as the straight columns, and finally there was only one switch, which is still available. The lower bearing for the 1969-1972 columns is still available, as are the turn signal levers and tilt release levers for all 1964-1972 Chevelle and El Camino columns. Next month we’ll continue on the interior.