501Paratrooper

Question....anyone know the difference between a tilt column for an automatic or a 4 speed? I have a floor shift automatic non tilt now and would like to replace with a tilt. I have found one but the part that attaches to the back drive seems to be longer and slightly curved. The column out of my car Where it attaches to the back drive is short like an inch and a half.

I have been told that mine is from a 4 speed?

501Paratrooper

Here are a few pics of mine.

2blu442

Well, I always thought the 69-72 columns would interchange, but your question got me to looking at some columns. I've got a 1969 floor shift automatic column and the arm looks like yours. It has a number stamped into it, it looks like 6813. Then I'm attaching photos of a 1971 floor shift automatic column and its arm is longer and curved. I've got a 1968 4 speed column but I can't easily get to it right now. Check out the photos and see what you think. John

P4170131.jpg

P4170133.jpg

P4170134.jpg

P4170135.jpg

mrolds69

I think they will interchange. It wouldn't matter because the backdrive is adjustable. I don't think it's a man/auto thing. I think 69's had the small tab. I know you can swap that arm out, I've done it...don't remember why I did it!

501Paratrooper

Yes, it does look like it's probably just a 69 thing. A Chevy guy swears that the small tabs are 4 speeds and the long are auto's, maybe for Chevelle's they are? Thanks guys I guess I'll just get one and not worry too much about the tab.

Thanks!

69442C

Newman, I ran into a similar issue on the 69 442 conv I restored and the arms make a big difference and they will not interchange. The short arm has completely different geometry with how it moves the back drive rod than the long one. Initially I had the short arm but I couldn't make the floor shifter move through all gears no matter how the linkage was adjusted. I ended up using the longer arm and the problem was solved. The arms are welded to an inner tube in the column and the entire tube/arm must be changed out which means the column needs to be partially disassembled. The assembly manual said their was an earlier back drive design and I thought that may have been the short arm but it could also be for a 4 speed car too. You'll need the longer arm if you are using the factory floor shifter and back drive linkage on your 69. Here is where I showed the problem in my thread.

Brian

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...project-6.html

joe_padavano

Brian is exactly correct. The length of the arm on the steering column needs to be matched to the length of the arm on the equalizer bar (the crossover part of the backdrive linkage that runs from the trans to the frame). Obviously the distance that the end of the arm travels (which increases as the arm gets longer) will change how much the equalizer bar rotates unless the arm on the equalizer bar matches. Long arm on the steering column requires a long arm on the equalizer bar, short requires short.

501Paratrooper

Brian and Joe, Thank you guys so much. My back drive must not have been hooked up.