79 K15 - Universal steering column

[atxb]

Evening! I’m working with my dad and brother on fixing up his K15. Some time in the past, my brother tried rebuilding it, and it simply wasn’t put back together correctly, so knowing parts are missing, I’m just wanting to replace the whole thing. No salvage yards around here have had a replacement, so now I’m looking online. I struggle with the $800+ options because this isn’t a full on restoration. I see these universal ones, but I lack the knowledge to know what may be needed to make it work in this truck.

So when looking at something like the below, what do I need to consider as potential “modifications” to make this work?

Universal Keyed GM Tilt Steering Column With Shifter, 32" Black

2-inch OD column housing, accepts any 2-inch column mount or drop Overall length from end of bell to tip of steering shaft is 32-inches Five position tilt mechanism with 30 degrees of total adjustment Includes ignition switch and keys Integrated GM style self-canceling turn signal switch with...

www.speedwaymotors.com

 

[mattsk8]

Fields Auto Salvage in Cedar Creek has a used one out of an 83 for $200. Their number is 512-247-4100.

 

[mattsk8]

I can't vouch for the column in your link, but I'd be nervous about using it. But I could be wrong and maybe it's a great column, just seems really cheap.

What is it about your column that you don't think can be fixed? Almost all of these columns will need to be taken apart because the bolts in the columns get loose over time, probably that used one too. It's not a tough job, you'll need the inverted torx bit to tighten them. But you can do it without removing the steering column. If yours is tilt you need a special tool in addition to the inverted torx bit to remove the pivot pins. There are a lot of videos showing how to do it. Basically tear the column apart until you can access those inverted torx bolts, remove them one at a time, clean the threads up and put Locktite on them when you thread them back in. I've done quite a few of them. Non-tilt columns are easier but tilt columns aren't that much harder.

 

[dd1990]

have you looked at getting a column from a car, I took one out of a cadillac, got 3 way adjustable.