Author Topic: 69 Tilt Steering Column  (Read 3032 times)

Bigfish45

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69 Tilt Steering Column
« on: July 07, 2018, 02:28:05 AM »
I have been wanting to put an original tilt column in my 69 Camaro for years and finally bought a rebuilt one this week from a big Camaro specialty parts company. It was sold to me as a "technically correct" tilt column. It came today and when I removed it from the box, the first thing I wanted to look at was the word "LOCK" on the housing next to where the lock cylinder goes. The tilt column I received today has the word "LOCK' perpendicular to the lock hole where as my original non-tilt word "LOCK" is pointing towards the lock cylinder hole. Although the lock housing is metal like it should be, I think the wording is incorrect for a 69, but I've never had an original tilt wheel 69 so I'm not sure. Also, there is no lock plate cover over the lock plate. I temporarily installed a GM wood wheel hub and tightened the nut down to completely seat the hub, There is a .140" gap between the hub and column housing and I can plainly see the lock plate through this gap. My non tilt has about the same amount of gap but it has a metal cover that attaches to the lock plate with 3 small screw to hide the lock plate. Did the tilt columns come with a lock plate cover too? I noticed there are no screw holes in the lock plate like my non-tilt so I don't see how a lock plate cover would be retained to the plate on a tilt column. Just when I thought I couldn't get any more concerned, I looked in the hole that the lock cylinder goes and I don't see a plastic sector gear. If there is anyone reading this that has a lot of knowledge on the 69 tilt columns, would you please help me out here. There is no way I'm going to remove my non-tilt column from the car until I am assured this is the correct tilt column and all the parts are present. I have taken several close up pictures of these concerns and could email them to anyone that is willing to try and help my confusion. You could PM your email address and I could send pics to you. Any help at all would be greatly appreciated.

69Z28-RS

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Re: 69 Tilt Steering Column
« Reply #1 on: July 07, 2018, 02:33:03 AM »
I'm fairly certain that the 'LOCK' word orientation is different (as you describe) but is correct for the tilt column in 69 Camaros...  if you do an advanced search, I'm sure you'll find prior threads addressing this.
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ZLP955

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Re: 69 Tilt Steering Column
« Reply #2 on: July 07, 2018, 02:39:17 AM »
Welcome to CRG bigfish.
Not familiar with the tilt version myself, but you *may* find some relevant info or pictures at Jim Shea's excellent reference site, link to the specific section on '69-'76 F-body tilt steering columns is:
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/?cat=12
Tim in Australia.
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z28z11

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Re: 69 Tilt Steering Column
« Reply #3 on: July 07, 2018, 02:51:32 AM »
You had it right - the original '69 tilt columns had the "Lock" label in line with the length of the column, later columns turned it 90 degrees. Depending on how late the column that you bought is, the lock plates changed slightly as well. Other applications used different shaped reverse lock levers on the end of the column, too - Pontiacs, Big Chevy, and other GM cars used the approximate lengths, but had curved and offset lock arms. Here's a link to a guy that does these - pretty sure I ran into this guy at Super Chevy Memphis years ago :

http://gmtiltsteeringcolumn.com/

If you think a '9 is difficult to locate or get right, find a good correct '68 for me. Tough -

Regards,
Steve
« Last Edit: July 07, 2018, 03:51:09 AM by z28z11 »
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Bigfish45

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Re: 69 Tilt Steering Column
« Reply #4 on: July 07, 2018, 04:14:53 AM »
I didn't know how to do an advance search but now I do. There were over 20 post about the tilt columns and I learned what I needed to know! Thanks for the suggestion 69Z28-RS.