gearhead1218

How hard is it to disable on a 70 Auto column so that the wheel does not lock when shut off and key removed?

MDchanic

Pretty easy - just remove the lock plate.

- Eric

joe_padavano

I think the lock plate holds the cancel cam in place, or at least acts as a spacer. You could also remove the lock pin that engages the lock plate instead.

MDchanic

Hmmmmm... Maybe it does.

But, yeah, the pin comes out, too.

Not hard at all.

- Eric

gearhead1218

Knew that lock plate removal tool would come in handy.
So, pull the lock plate, remove the pin, reassemble and I should be golden.

MDchanic

Sounds good to me, but I will note that I have never actually removed the lock pin, so I can't swear that there will be no side effects.

- Eric

1971cutlas

Just wondering what the reason would be to disable this feature??

gearhead1218

I'm putting in a B&M shifter. The B&M linkage that goes on on the tranny won't allow the additional rod from the column that prevents you from locking the column in gear.
So by disabling the lock, it'll be like you have a stick=shift column. While driving down the road and you stupidly shut off the ignition, you still have control of the car.

starfire

Do you do that a lot?

MDchanic

+1. This seems to be a solution to a non-problem.

- Eric

joe_padavano

It's very easy to simply weld the tab from the floor shift bracket to the existing column shift bracket, thereby making something similar to what the factory used on floor shift cars.

gearhead1218

And I would never want to see it happen.

gearhead1218

Was looking at that option Joe. May revisit it also. I doubt my skills at pulling it off though. Mostly my welding skills. Would have to farm out that one.

Unfortunately I'm starting to get to "that point" where I'm getting to the end of the money tree on this project. Thinking that disabling the lock will be the least expensive fix.

gearhead1218

OK Joe, looks like you are right again. I'm going to pluck a few leaves off that money tree and have that linkage fabbed up. I'll post a picture when done.

joe_padavano

Can I send this to my ex-wives?

gearhead1218

Careful, they may be your exes for a reason.

gearhead1218

OK everyone. I won't need to disable the lock on my column.
This is what I have ended up with.

MDchanic

Pretty.

- Eric

joe_padavano

Looks good. Where is the adjustment? The factory bracket has a slot for adjusting cable length. I assume the bracket on the pan has the adjustment in your case?

gearhead1218

Correct Joe.