Installing A Steering Column

chromebumpers

solid fixture here in the forum
Staff member
The steering wheel in my Catalina rubs against my legs while driving, even with the seat pushed back. It has to be the same problem with 95% of all drivers of these cars. I’m putting out the money for a tilt wheel in hopes that it makes for a better driving experience.

I need to know what’s involved in changing the column, anything that should be done to the new (for me) column?
Are there any “tune up” parts that should be addressed before installing? The drive selector, the ignition lock set and does the seat need to come out? How long do you think it will take?49974CCC-0EA5-43B8-B795-689F2953F345.jpeg Any special tools? Are any parts pressed in? In Canada the full size Pontiac and Chevy Impala are made on the same line, they share many parts. Do you have a photo of a Chevy Impala column? I’ll continue to look for one.
 
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They want $375 and they say it’s in great condition (Frank’s Auto Parts). Can I do better?
 
Ive never done it on a catalina but I have on a 1964 lemans and it was not all that difficult if you had a buddy to help hold the steering collum while you aligned the parts and connectors, bolts etc. and no special tools that your average fairly well equipted mechanic would have were required
the price quoted for the adjustable collum seems rather reasonable, I generally see higher prices as getting older 1960s-1980 parts are becoming scarce/rare
just be darn sure its compatible with your year, make model car and ideally a complete OEM,steering collum,
(NEW OLD DEALER REPLACEMENT STOCK OR AT LEAST USED BUT FROM A LOWER MILEAGE SURVIVOR CAR)

in great condition, make sure before you buy it, that it includes small internal parts like ignition and turn signal parts as those are very hard to locate and in some cases repair ,replace or install.
as there are lots of non-OEM parts that don,t fit correctly being sold as interchangeable between many years, and most are NOT
 
I had found a mechanic that was willing to help me at my garage to get some things out of the way. Last week I had this feeling to go check on him. Generally I leave him alone and only communicate through a phone call as he likes to talk. I startled him and he dropped his bottle of booze. Now I don’t care if someone drinks, but do it at his house, not mine and certainly not while he was working for me.

I forgot, ignition key is in the dash so I don’t have to deal with that part. If things come apart without breaking, can I expect just to take things off of the original column and transfer over? Do I need a steering wheel puller for FAABA74B-7280-4E8F-BED3-025771D9B8DF.jpeg this type of wheel?
 
3BCCED27-24CB-49A8-8A16-AB241870A70B.jpeg 4ACB587A-31AE-422E-84B8-801D506A918C.jpeg 1DA47830-4FED-4917-92A3-34EB1180C588.jpeg 59EF8457-235C-40DD-8386-4F6326596636.jpeg F86BF50E-EAAF-4C9C-82E0-F204BB87163F.jpeg 7E6CF4FD-BFBA-43C1-9C00-F04477FFEFF9.jpeg DECA544D-2FEB-40FE-86F2-656CFF38FF11.jpeg Btw, I never took really great and complete photos of my car, however I did find a car that looks exactly like mine except it says Bonneville. My paint looks a bit better, but otherwise the whitewalls, wire wheels with the same center caps, every thing but mine has all Red interior and matching nice new Red boot cover Over White top. I just need new carpets and the rest is unbelievably perfect.
 
Funny, I have cars worth much more but this one gets a lot more attention. :p The bird beak front grill reminds me of bird man on the old sci-fi show “Babylon 5”0FE74918-CD93-47E7-8755-AFCCF446FADD.jpeg075E9B87-EAAB-4CBE-B998-8AB4FEB33CE3.jpeg160ECD27-A42C-4064-82C9-61B42F7A77A4.jpeg0B326BD9-33C6-4D06-A5A0-239EF5A5F102.jpeg
 
I don,t know what youll run into but I doubt it will be any real issue
 
Let’s see, windshield washer hoses - got the missing squirters, hoses and tank.
Need to connect the kick-down wire from the pedal to the carb.
The motor didn’t have a belt for the AC, got the belt, but hope there’s no problem.
Have to replace the weather stripping/molding/ around the trunk lid recess, have and ready to start.
Carpet, Ames Performance has a nice set complete with jute padding and the color is spot on! have to order.
Had the windshield guys out to fix a stone chip - I’m still trying to find where it was! LOL!
And the exhaust sounds bad, might have rusted out baffles in the mufflers. I have new Dynomax mufflers and a brand new dual exhaust from Pypes, taking the car and stuff to a muffler shop and let them sweat over it.
I have a new rear bumper, the original is junk and looks awful, but the new one has some soft dents but beautiful chrome. I have faith a hard rubber dead blow hammer will take out, this too will go to a body shop.
I have to get the car up in the air and hopefully find an easy way to drain the tank. I rebuilt the carb a long time ago but never put gas in it, so it should be ready to go after I install a new filter an blow out the lines.
This is the part that hurts, It has beautiful tires that have hardly been used and now they are starting to show dry rot in between the treads. Have to get all new set.
And finally, there was a pos radio attached under the dash with speakers on the floor in the rear. I swear there must be 16 wires dangling were I took the radio out. That has to be addressed somehow.
When this is done it will be one very nice example of a ‘68 Catalina, then it’s for sale! LOL!:eek:
 
Well today I put up the money to purchase the steering column from Franks Pontiac parts in Cal. Not very friendly people. I don’t know what it is with people that work in junk yards, they alway act so negative to help. Had to pay $55 to ship a 21 lb part by ground (they say they don’t mark up shipping). I hope it works! Some cars it just never made any sense why tilt steering wasn’t standard. Take C3 Corvettes, unless you are 160 lbs and no more than 5’ 8” the fixed position of the big wheel makes it rub on your legs and getting your right leg past the wheel while entering the car is another problem.
 
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