Hello Everyone,

New to the site. I have found a lot of useful info on here, great site!
I was wondering if someone could give me info on removing my steering column from my 71 cutlass. I am in the process of removing the shell from the frame. Everything else is pretty well removed. Just need some help on how to remove column. It has been lowered and dash has been removed.
Any info would be greatly appreciated.

 

You're more than half way there. Disconnect the electrical connectors and remove the inner toe pan cover. Now go to the engine side and remove the C clip and bolt that hold the intermediate shaft bowl in place. Disconnect the transmission selector from the shift tube tang (there's a cotter pin holds it on one side of the rubber grommet.

Inside the car, gently lift the column and tug / pull inwards. The whole column should come through the firewall. You may have to wiggle and angle it to get the tang on the shift tube through. There's a foam firewall seal that should be replaced when you do this. It prevents engine off gasses from entering the cabin through the column piercing.

This works really well with one person in the car holding the column and one at the engine bay guiding the column out. BTW, if you're doing all this work, I assume you'll also have pulled the front clip or inner liners. That will make access to the column and removal a breeze.

One thing I recommend very highly - Get yourself a CHASSIS SERVICE MANUAL for your car. It's the bible of working on these oldies. The whole procedure for doing this is written up on pages 9A-14 & 9A15. And there's pictures too!
Here's one really cheap! http://www.ebay.com/itm/1972-OLDSMOB...#ht_500wt_1158

 

Thanks for the info. VERY useful. MUCH appreciated.