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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Interior & Equipment => Steering Columns => Topic started by: fiddler on July 07, 2014, 03:16:44 pm
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So I bought my 1974 Chevy C10 Stepside a year ago last March and have been fixing things a bit at a time. It's a hobby truck. The guy I bought it from told me it did not come with a tilt steering wheel and he installed that and a custom wheel at the same time. He also installed a used OOGAH horn and moved the horn switch to a toggle on the dash. One way was stock horn, one way was really crappy OOGAH. So the turn signals don't cancel and I want to move the horn button back to stock position with stock horn. (I have removed the OOGAH). Long story for a short question...
Can anybody tell me how to identify the year of the tilt wheel so I can order the turn signal switch and canceller and horn switch parts before I tear it apart? I don't want the truck setting torn apart waiting parts.
Thanks for any help,
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Post some pics, we need to see to be able to tell you what year.
Have you seen the write up on how to fix a sloppy GM steering wheel (http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=12525.0) by Capt ?
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pics to be posted by this weekend. I will try to get to it one of these first evenings. Thanks!!
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A common cause for turn signals not cancelling are broken or missing cancelling springs (Dorman 49312 (http://www.autozone.com/autozone/parts/Dorman-Turn-Signal-Cam/_/N-9cik1?itemIdentifier=17389_0_0_)). They are easy to replace without removing the turn switch from the column, as long as the rest of the switch is functional.
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There are several detailed articles on the internet that show how to tear down and fix the GM tilt column. Just take a look and get familiar with the process.
The basic design of the tilt wheel did not change much over the years, so you may not need to determine the exact year of what was used. However, the column electrical connectors did change, especially when they started adding cruise control, and a wiper switch on the stalk.
Most of the parts you need are common and should be in stock at most GM dealers. Even the common box stores (Autozone, etc.) will carry those type of parts for a GM tilt wheel. I think you will have to tear it apart and then try to match your parts with what is available at the store.
Some suggested tools/techniques:
- You will need a steering wheel puller (free rental from most box stores)
- You will need a GM steering wheel lock plate compressor (simple tool; I made one from some scrap metal)
- Threading the wiring for the turn signal switch up and down the column takes some experimentation. All the connections are made with a wide, flat connector near the bottom of the column.
- I would recommend a further tear down to replace the rack and rod that connects to the ignition switch. Its a cheap pot metal part ($12?), but when it fails it prevents the ignition switch from starting the truck. As part of this tear down you also want to lock-tite the bolts that hold the tilt mechanism to the column, since they often loosen up over time.
Bruce