T/T column Rant

[GT6Steve]

OK, I've just about had it with this POS. Started out simple enough to retighten those four ridiculous bolts making the column flop around. Did it ten years ago with no major aggro beyond it being a big job. This time every single thing turns to doo-doo as I touch it!

Both the bearing races are crumbled making the bearing reassembly a nightmare. One of the bearings fell into the relief behind the tilt lever stopping it from getting full travel. In the hundred times I've had that off and on before finding that stinking ball I've managed to bend the Hi/lo beam shaft.


AArgh, where do I buy a replacement and what major trials will I face in fitting a new column in place?

 

[mrvette]

As I recall, both inner and outer races were steel, and the bearing RETAINERS were plastic, but I obtained and rebuilt a late shark TT wheel for my '72 back many years ago....'95 comes to mind.....

and U don't wanna know how many times I had that damn thing apart and together yet again, clamped up on a jig in my bench vice....talk about a cussing SOB, and with NO help from the .net either......

:evil::drink:

 

[GT6Steve]

Yeah, I'm wavering between just buying a complete assembly on the bay or buy the bits to rebuild this one on the bench. Either way I gotta pull the GDamned thing out.

I saw bearing sets for about ten bucks each, haven't seen a headlight rod yet and I'll wager I could spend hours attempting to straighten it with mediocre results.

Shoulda dne like so many websites say and just tightened the accessible ones but, oh no, stupid Steve has to do it right:gurney:

 

[Twin_Turbo]

Doesn't doc rebuild have the rods? I made one for a 77 column from pretty thick tig welding rod, took a bit of trial and error but it works flawlessly

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

granted this is a VERY expensive option - but Flaming river makes a replacement column for the C3 Corvette - $699 list, FR30005

 

[GT6Steve]

Started over again this morning by removing the column and moving it to the bench. I straigthened the bent rod and the tilt assembly is back together. Right now I'm painting the outer bits while I struggle to remember the assembly order ;-))

I'm stewing on pulling off all the wheels and taking them to the polisher while I finish this bit.:bonkers:

 

[GT6Steve]

This afternoon the column is back together and seems to be working. I've got a couple of odd spring steel bits I can't figure out but it all seems to be working. Tomorrow I'll have a go at replacing the column.

The Summit POS wheel that was suppiosed to fit does not, why am I surprised? I'll put the horrid original back on until I work out a replacement. I'm tempted to machine the Summit one and send the original to MidAmerica for a rebuild. I wanted polished spokes but I can live with the stock bit....:drink:

 

[TimAT]

Post pictures of the oddball springs. There are a couple of places that have some flat springs...

 

[GT6Steve]

You gotta laugh....

After the column went back in there was a minor anomaly in that the key could only be turned slightly to start the car. The normal full turn just made a big click and nothing else. I couldn't figure what was changed so I drove it mindful of the weirdness. Until Monday afternoon, a mile from work the thing just died on a major street.

I pushed it aside and after a bit of fiddling I called the tow truck.

This was a major drama as my beloved bride is in a daycare center that closes at 6:30. I called some friends looking for some help but their SmartPhones were smart enough not to answer.

Tow Truck got me home at 6:15 and I left him to unload while I rushed across town to the Clubhouse arriving there only ten minutes late. Those good people want to go home too!

Point is, today I fixed the offending bit for 15 Dollars, 1/10th of the tow bill. Apparently, when I put the black connector back on the start ignition switch it pushed a contact into the switch creating the problem.

Sometimes life is a bitch but then it's shiny again:friends: