1971 Tilt Steering column

[GAWen]

I have a severe electrical short inside the steering column. I am wondering if anyone knows who made the column and internals components, are parts still available? Second half of the question, does anyone have a complete, fully functional tilt column for sale? The ignition switch on my Avanti is in the dash (just like the original Avanti).

Edited January 8, 2009 by GAWen

[WayneC]

I have a severe electrical short inside the steering column. I am wondering if anyone knows who made

the column and internals components, are parts still available? Second half of the question, does anyone

have a complete, fully functional tilt column for sale?

I don't have exact knowledge, but I believe the steering column was built by GM (Saginaw Steering)

and should be about the same as GM cars of that era; I believe other makers may have used the GM

columns as well, like Chrysler, because at the time auto theft was becoming a serious problem and the

locking column was devised as a deterrent, to make stealing a car more difficult than just hot-wiring it.

Of course, enterprising and determined thieves learned to use a slide puller to overcome that deterrent,

and repairing a theft-recovery was made more expensive because of the damage caused by the puller.

The electrical short inside the column is most likely just frayed wire insulation, so once you get the

column apart you will probably be able to easily correct that. In fact, are you sure the problem is inside

the column? I think there may be a switch and/or connector attached atop the column near the firewall,

so the issue could well be in that switch, or in the turn signal mechanism. The other end of the wires

extending from the switch up inside the column may be accessible once the steering wheel is removed.

You might even be able to string new wires by attaching new wire to the ends of old, and pulling the new

wires through the column with the old wires. Complete new wiring harnesses for the column may be

available from GM.

But that's mostly speculation, wish I could be more helpful. Sorry, I don't have an exact reference book to

recommend, but shop manuals for mid-70's Chevy sedans might cover removal/disassembly/reassembly

of the column.

I do have a part number listed for an Avanti II: 1561594X41 for whatever that's worth... it's possible

the 7 numbers in front of the X are a GM part number, the last 3 may denote the configuration for Avanti...

But it may be difficult finding out what that part was used for besides Avantis.

I suspect all Avanti II (70?) up until 1984 used the same column. I once owned a 77 Chevelle that had a

very similar column, but I never compared the two so perhaps just the upper part (tilt & lock) was the same,

while the column itself could have been much different.

See if your column looks something like these on eBay, to give you an idea, and pay attention to the wiring:

http://tinyurl.com/925ov9

http://tinyurl.com/75njh9

http://tinyurl.com/7e8qcd

http://tinyurl.com/9z9qf3

http://tinyurl.com/9kr7mr

Note the connector(s) shown in the photos.

Some of those sellers may recondition columns as a business. Here's a rebuilder I found via Google:

http://www.gmtiltsteeringcolumn.com/services.html

Here's a seller that has some parts:

https://www.yearone.com/serverfiles/fbshopm...624&Style=2

Here's some files that I found via Google that have diagrams, etc that might be helpful (each link downloads a file):

http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...dr_104de07.doc

http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...D&R226JA04.doc

http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co..._304jl2007.doc

http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...emblyPage1.doc

http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...2Rev04MR03.doc

http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...ACarBlowUp.doc

http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...s&Mounting.doc

Darn!!! ...those links don't seem to work when copied to this forum, but you can find them about halfway down the page at:

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2132479

Good luck.

Edited January 8, 2009 by WayneC

[ernier]

I have a severe electrical short inside the steering column. I am wondering if anyone knows who made the column and internals components, are parts still available? Second half of the question, does anyone have a complete, fully functional tilt column for sale? The ignition switch on my Avanti is in the dash (just like the original Avanti).

Definitely repair rather than replace. The column is not hard to remove and the harness isn't difficult to get out.

If your column is similar to the style in the 1964 cars expect to have a dufficult time finding one and pay big money. The last one on ebay went for around $1200.

ErnieR

[WayneC]

Further info:

I inadvertently stumbled across a couple of old posts on the Yahoo Avanti

forum that says the tilt column is the same as used on circa '69 Camaro

and Firebird (and probably some later years)...

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/avanti/message/14804

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/avanti/message/14739

Oops... now I notice you also recently posted on that Yahoo forum, saying your

ignition switch is on the dash, which probably means you have a standard

Studebaker column. Because of the cutout for the column in the instrument panel,

you are probably limited to the Stude-style column, although you could

change-out the panel for a later Avanti II panel to use the GM tilt column.

Edited January 16, 2009 by WayneC

[Luma]

I have a 70 Avanti II non tilt column for trade thats wired for the emergency flasher switch. Should plug right in to your harness. If interested let me know.