Tilt Wheel in '76 CJ5?

[DaveMueller]

My genuine Jeep service manual says tilt wheel was never offered in the '76 CJ series. I have tilt wheel in my '76 CJ5 . Someone's lying!

Under the black paint, the column is red. My CJ is orange. The ignition key is an old GM, which isn't unusual as apparently AMC used Saginaw columns.

So if it was swapped, how can I find out what it really is, and what potential problems should I look for? The index mark near the splines on the column points to about 5 o'clock.

I started this because the ignition switch "start" position doesn't work, so the PO wired in a push button with some 12 gauge Romex house wire to the starter relay.

Thanks
Dave

 

[HackFabrication]

AMC indeed used GM Saginaw steering columns. Which makes it easier to find 'stuff'.

The 76 ignition switch (the one that's on the lower part of the column - not the ignition key cylinder), is different that the later model CJ's. And probably the GM's too. Most likely the PO put in a GM tilt column out of who knows what vehicle, and 'improvised' on the wiring. (Romex... Nice...) Pics might help.

My 76 CJ5 had a non-tilt column OEM. I upgraded to a tilt column during my rebuild. The column I got (from Centech Wiring) was about as close to the AMC version of the Saginaw column I could get.