harleyrules

Hello,
I have a column shift column and want to change to a console column. How difficult is it to remove the column and put in the replacement one? Anything special I need to purchase? 1964 Cutlass

dbater

It’s pretty straightforward depends on what you mean by replacement column, factory or aftermarket. Factory columns are only interchangeable from 64-66 they are getting hard to find.

harleyrules

Factory column from about 64 Cutlass. Is it simply unbolt unplug wires and replace reverse procedure? Or is there going to be some surprises along the way? Basically any issues I might run into?

edzolz

You should remove the steering wheel too. Gives more room to menuver. And cover your seats to keep them clean.

dbater

That’s pretty much it, you will need the firewall bracket / plate for the floor shift column.

66-3X2 442

If you want to get tricky,leave the shaft in the car and just remove the column itself. It will work unless you're going tilt.

harleyrules

If I want to leave the shaft in the car, how do I remove just the column itself? Where is the best to disconnect the column from the car, at the steering box before the rag joint or after the rag joint or at the column where it meets the shaft?

66-3X2 442

You just do like you were removing the shaft with the column. Take the retaining bracket off and pull the column out leaving the plate on the firewall. It should come right out but whwn you put it back in,the rubber seal on the lower column is the tricky part. Use a lube of some kind to make it easier. Of course you will need to remove the wheel before removing the column. That how you adjust the wheel gap too,slide the column up and downt ill the gap is correct.

harleyrules

The retaining bracket looks like a clamp?

66-3X2 442

Yes,it's two nuts holding the clamp/bracket.

harleyrules

So if I understand correctly, I remove the 2 nuts that are under the dash that holds the steering column up and I should be able to just pull the column off of the shaft that's in the engine compartment? I don't need to bolt or disconnect any brackets/clamps in the engine compartment?

66-3X2 442

After second thought,you will also need to remove the firewall plate as the column shift arm will not come through the hole. Just go ahead and remove the shaft too,it's just a couple of more bolts. If it's a BBO engine the flange on the end of the shaft is tough to get past the manifold & thus the reason for leaving the shaft in the car.

dbater

Yes if big block take a block of wood and floor jack and carefully place on front corner of engine and jack up to create some space between the control arm and manifold to get the steering shaft past that interference point.

harleyrules

Ok thank you for the information. I'll give it a try and see how it goes..

harleyrules

Ok, what am I missing here? I have the steering wheel removed the column is unbolted the firewall plate is removed linkage is disconnected and I cannot get this column to release from the shaft. Short of beating it with a hammer and damaging the plastic bushing/bearings how do I get them separated?

66-3X2 442

Have you removed the clamp/bracket that's held on with 2 nuts?

harleyrules

Yes, I removed the clamp bracket that is held on with 2 nuts under the dash.

66-3X2 442

The bearing is made into the turn signal switch and slides on the shaft. You sure you have all of the screws out of the firewall plate,right?

harleyrules

Yes Sir, There is nothing attached to the steering column. I can't get the shaft to separate from the column.

66-3X2 442

Just imagine if the column was out of the car. How are you going to remove the shaft from the upper column? I'm not sure why you're having trouble removing it. Try this,take the turn signal assy loose from the column by removing the screws. If the turn signal assy. slides up,something is wrong.

harleyrules

I have no idea how I would remove the shaft from the column if it was out of the car. I'm at a total loss here. I must be missing something...the shaft doesn't slide up or down...

nicks1966

The shaft should slide right out of the column , the only things holding the column in the car are the clamp under the dash and the five screws holding the firewall bracket to the firewall.
Pull down and slide the column off. I just did this on my 66 it was a little stuck on the firewall but a little tug and it came right off.

66-3X2 442

The column can't slide down because of the clamp on the bottom on the shaft @ the end of the column. Like the other guy said,it's probably just stuck and needs a little love to get it out. You will need to push the column down toward the floor as there is a groove or dowel that keeps the column in place. Once you get it low enough,pull on it,you ain't gonna break it. LOL

harleyrules

I'll give it another shot. Maybe just being too gentle..