Wanted: Tilt Steering column for 1964 Avanti

[ronmanfredi]

I want to add a factory tilt column to my 63 Avanti.  Does anyone have one they would part with or know where I could get one?  Thanks!

[mfg]

1 hour ago, ronmanfredi said:

I want to add a factory tilt column to my 63 Avanti.  Does anyone have one they would part with or know where I could get one?  Thanks!

Look for an early ‘A’ series Avanti ll being parted out… Several of those used that same column.

[Bobcat]

10 hours ago, mfg said:

Look for an early ‘A’ series Avanti ll being parted out… Several of those used that same column.

MFG, do you know what specific vehicle the tilt steering columns in the Altman cars came out of? Mine is a '72 model.

[Gunslinger]

I don't know exactly when the change to an impact absorbing steering column was made...but the '70 Avanti RQ-B I owned had the original design steering column that Studebaker used.  Avanti Motors...being a small volume producer...received a temporary exemption from some safety standards from the feds to phase in compliance with safety standards.  My car was built in September 1970 so it had to be after that date...likely around 1971 or possibly even 1972 before the change was made.  

Does your '72 have an impact absorbing steering column or the standard Studebaker unit?  

An option is to buy a modern, custom steering column through Summit Racing or Jeg's.  That would be a brand new unit rather than one that might require refurbishing.  

[Dwight FitzSimons]

These guys may be of help.  I don't know if they can supply a steering column, but at least they advertise that they fix them correctly.

--Dwight

 

[mfg]

15 hours ago, Bobcat said:

MFG, do you know what specific vehicle the tilt steering columns in the Altman cars came out of? Mine is a '72 model.

Hello Bobcat!…. The  tilt steering column Studebaker used in Avantis, as well as the tilt column used in early ‘A’ series Avanti ll’s, was a tilt column common to mid sixties GM vehicles ( Buick, Olds ) and although replacement parts from those GM tilt columns will interchange with the tilt column Studebaker used, the columns themselves are not directly interchangeable.

Around ‘70- ‘71, when the ‘B’ series Avanti ll’s came to be, an entirely different tilt steering column was used.

This later (Saginaw) column had the ignition switch mounted in the column, and is still very common these days, as it was used in ‘B’ series Avanti’s at least thru ‘85, and also used in ‘70-‘90+ GM, Chrysler, and AMC vehicles.

Edited 23 hours ago by mfg
Spell.

[Bobcat]

The reason I am asking is I am replacing the steering wheel,  and can't find the right adaptor to connect the horn. The parts supplied with the steering wheel won't connect to the tilt column on my '72. I left a message with the supplier over a week ago,  but no reply.

[Bobcat]

2 hours ago, Gunslinger said:

I don't know exactly when the change to an impact absorbing steering column was made...but the '70 Avanti RQ-B I owned had the original design steering column that Studebaker used.  Avanti Motors...being a small volume producer...received a temporary exemption from some safety standards from the feds to phase in compliance with safety standards.  My car was built in September 1970 so it had to be after that date...likely around 1971 or possibly even 1972 before the change was made.  

Does your '72 have an impact absorbing steering column or the standard Studebaker unit?  

An option is to buy a modern, custom steering column through Summit Racing or Jeg's.  That would be a brand new unit rather than one that might require refurbishing.  

I know it's a tilt Saginaw,  but not sure about impact absorbing. 

[mfg]

7 minutes ago, Bobcat said:

I know it's a tilt Saginaw,  but not sure about impact absorbing. 

Yes … definitely collapsible column.

In a front collision, steering shaft will  ‘telescope’ into itself.

Edited 21 hours ago by mfg
Added text

[Bobcat]

37 minutes ago, Bobcat said:

I know it's a tilt Saginaw,  but not sure about impact absorbing. 

How can I determine?

[mfg]

3 hours ago, Bobcat said:

How can I determine?

If you have a ‘72, and the ignition key is on the column, it’s a generic Saginaw.

(Hard to believe steering wheel adapters for that column are hard to find)

[Bobcat]

4 hours ago, mfg said:

If you have a ‘72, and the ignition key is on the column, it’s a generic Saginaw.

(Hard to believe steering wheel adapters for that column are hard to find)

I chatted with Linda at Myers today, and sent pics of my existing horn setup. She thinks the column is an AMC. I looked on Grant steering wheel website, and found an AMC adapter that I believe will work. I hope to confirm everything tomorrow. 

Thanks much for the feedback. 

[ronmanfredi]

12 hours ago, Dwight FitzSimons said:

These guys may be of help.  I don't know if they can supply a steering column, but at least they advertise that they fix them correctly.

--Dwight

 

CJ's isn't open anymore, the owner passed away.

[mfg]

11 hours ago, Bobcat said:

I chatted with Linda at Myers today, and sent pics of my existing horn setup. She thinks the column is an AMC. I looked on Grant steering wheel website, and found an AMC adapter that I believe will work. I hope to confirm everything tomorrow. 

Thanks much for the feedback. 

Yes… you are definitely on the right track now… Best of luck!!

PS…. If anyone simply HAS to have the earlier tilt steering column used by Studebaker, try to find a ‘63-‘69 GM tilt column as used in Buick, Olds, Chev, Pontiac…..

I’ll bet a ‘crafty’ person may be able to combine a non- tilt Stude Avanti column with a tilt GM column and create a ‘prototype… an interesting project!

Edited 1 hour ago by mfg
Added PS