Fix Current Column or Get Another One?

[1987 GMC Jimmy]

I've already played with this issue in some previous posts on other threads, and I'm almost sold on the a column swap, but I wanted to get some more consensus from more people. I've found a few candidate columns for swaps. One is bit to far to go and still have to pull them, one is too much money, and there are a few that are close that I know of, but they're being sold by junkyards, and I haven't gotten a price yet. Here are the issue with mine. The shift lever housing (#10) is hacked in two at the seam where the rods in the column are exposed, and some of the horn stuff is missing. Is there a way to strip the column, remove the shifter, and install the housing backwards? I'm almost certain the answer is no, but I've never taken one of these apart before so I'm no authority. I also have pictured the horn stuff that I've managed to scrounge up: the cup, the isolator, (I may have the plate laying around), and the three bolts, which are just floating to hold the button on. All I'm missing is the contact kit. The one good thing besides everything else working on this column is that it's nice and tight and not all sloppy.

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[Honky Kong jr]

You send me that tank and I send you the column out of the 89K5.....it will need it’s bolts tightened but it’s all there

 

[1987 GMC Jimmy]

That's very tempting. I've never shipped something that big before so I'll have to do some homework. Can you ballpark what something like that would cost?

 

[Honky Kong jr]

That's very tempting. I've never shipped something that big before so I'll have to do some homework. Can you ballpark what something like that would cost?

UPS would probably be the cheapest I think they have a calculator for box dimensions and weight. 17517 is my zip

 

[HotRodPC]

A guy who knew a little about those columns could get it back together. Those 2 rods are 1 for ignition switch, the other smaller one is going into the high beam switch. But, it sounds like you're missing enough parts, by the time you bought the missing parts, yes I'd think you could find a used working column. It looks like you're wanting one for 1984 and up.

 

[B111Y]

There is a really good video on Youtube by a guy named Master Locksmith the video really helped me tear down and rebuild my 86 tilt column title of the video is How to: Chevrolet GMC Steering Column Repair

 

[1987 GMC Jimmy]

Thanks, Billy. I've watched a whole lot of videos on it, and we have a really nice write up that one of our guys did that I've read through multiple times. The thing that concerns me is the little trinkets in the column. I have big hands and bad eyes so tiny parts and I are a bad combination. I'm probably gonna have to tear into whatever I end up going with so that makes me feel a little better, and I will check out that video.