Steering column swap

[JIMCO]

   I'm gonna try and was wondering if any one has done it. I found a complete steering column from a mid eighties Caddi with tilt and tele. I stood it next to my 86 C30 column and they look very similar. A few parts must be swaped from the Chevy to the Caddi column like the plate that bolts to the firewall and maybe the wiring. The wiring looks the same but not sure about the match up of the wires. But it looks as thought the wiring will swap over as well. Any thoughts on this swap from any one?

[JJSZABO]

I don't know about switching to a Caddi column, but i've done it three times with a truck column.  I started with a straight stock column and had problems with the turn signal cancelling cam, along with grinding noise in column itself - so I removed it again for a tilt with intermittent wipers. 

Its not "hard" persay.  Just time consuming and knuckle busting.  It tore my skin up removing the electrical connection from the column.  The ignition is the little "L" shaped plug.  The other one next to it is the headlight highbeam switch and the long skinney plug is for the wiper switch and all its functions.  Then there is the stand alone cruise control wire.  I think that's it for electrical.

Will the Caddi bolt to the same location under the dash?  This is a crumple zone in case of a frontal inpact.  The column will crush here along with the column itself (internally).

Can you post pictures?

Also, welcome to the site

[Captkaos]

Technically yes it can be swapped, but you will have to change soem things as you go.  It won't be a bolt in procedure.

[dunedigger]

My buddy tried this a few years back with the same column you are talking about.  I was picking on him because he is kind of heavy set and putting in a telescoping was kind of strange.  He got it bolted in and couldn't get in the truck, lol.  But he never actually made it function.

[JIMCO]

   Thanks for the great site. I will get some pics up soon. I have a few other things to finish first. When you stand the two columns up side by side. They mechanicly look the same. The under dash mount is the same. The length is the same. Even the wiring looks the same. As in types of plugs, location. I am not confident the wiring is the same so I will swap the truck wiring harnes into the Caddi column. The only obvious differance is the plate at the botton where it bolts to the firewall. I think they will swap out as well. Wish me luck. Thanks again.

[Captkaos]

You can remove the firewall plate and change it.