Automatic Column Shift to Standard Floor Shift.
Anybody run into a problem in locating a GM tilt column, floor shift and headlight dimmer on the floor. Somebody is grabbing them out of the junkyards. If you find anything with a clutch pedal the column is gone. We had a shift tilt column from a J10 that we were using for mockup but were keeping our eye open for a floor shift column. Since no luck we had heard of people cutting off the shifter boss and filling it in with various materials. We were afraid of it eventually cracking out. Did some searching on different forums and through an Oldsmobile forum they made mention of Speedway Motors
910-32600 from Speedway Motors, America's Oldest Speed Shop offering a column shift cover part #910-32600 specifically for this purpose to hide the cut off shifter boss. Cost $31.02 to my door. It's really made for a non tilt column but will work for a tilt as well according to their very helpful staff. Fits great. OK that takes care of the shifter bowl. Since the ignition switch cover also has the shift quadrant assembly mounted to the cover, via an "L" shaped hole, that also had to be filled in. Couldn't find any after market mod for that. The cover is made from cast aluminum, so a piece of sheet aluminum was cut to shape, formed to the same radius as the cover, then pressed into place.
I originally tried to spot
weld with an aluminum rod but the cast was not co-operating. So I backed off before I ruined it and broke out the JB Weld. Smeared that on the inside and outside then ground it smooth. The inside can be left heavy for strength without any worry of it interfering with the function of the column. A column shift steering column has a shift tube that runs the whole length right down to the bottom bearing. This must be retained to hold the bottom bearing to support the lower shaft. Just cut off the linkage lever that connects to the shift linkage that goes to the
Transmission . After assembly, and when the shift tube is in the park position, it can be secured to the outer
column jacket tube by drilling and tapping for a 10 -32 button head screw. Speaking of assembly, I won't go into depth, that's what assembly manuals are for, but one word of caution. And this was the only snag I ran into due to lack of experience. There is a "lock sector tension spring" (craziest thing you ever wanted to look at) fastened to a plastic gear at the opposite end of the ignition switch. Well wouldn't you know I broke it. Well I surely didn't have one of those in my "might use it some day box" so internet to the rescue. Led me to Steering Column Services.
[url=http://www.steeringcolumnservices.com/jeep/spring01-locking-pin-spring.php]Spring01 Locking Pin Spring | Steering Column Services[/url] Part # spring01 cost $4.85
OK so I order 2 of them. Well somehow 2nd day air got checked (by me, not them) and 2 springs cost me $78.18 flown to my door in 2 days from Utah. I did find the mistake the next day after seeing 5 emails and 1 phone message from them asking if I wanted to indeed ship it this method, but it was already shipped. I have to give them credit for trying. Lesson learned? don't be in a hurry, it will cost you. We ordered up a new turn signal switch from Advanced Auto part #S3233 for around $25. Ours was cracked. Interesting thing non of these switches come with the gray wire for the shift quadrant bulb. Not that we would be using it since we eliminated
that part but if you needed it for your application it would be necessary to remove the connector from your old switch and install it in the new one. We did, because we can use this wire to run to the floor shift quadrant display. The whole conversion should have cost us under $60.00 compared to $200.00 or more for a rebuild. I say should have if it wouldn't have been for my screw ups.
