Can anyone point me in the right direction to locate a lower bearing for my steering column? I'm thinking most 88 series around 1966 would fit?

 

Nov 73 Olds parts book shows:

Group 6.521, p/n 7802845. Bearing, lower, 1963 except F85; 1964-65 except tilt wheel; 1966 ALL.

That tells me it's used on 63-66 cars except 64-65 cars with tilt. Hopefully you can cross reference that number to a modern number.

Keep in mind all GM Divisions used Saginaw steering columns so one listed for another GM brand may work.

 

The part # worked, typed it in and a bunch of options popped up. Thanks for the help, gotta love these old olds!

 

I’ve never replaced mine, but I have the tilt & tele column. In fact 2.

How did you know yours is worn out?

I have the impression that normal vs. t&t may use different lower bearings. Looks like your got there before me.

If you’re successful, please the place and part number where you get yours.

thanks
Chris

 

66 Starfires great cars, In fact I'm in the search for a 65 or 66, top of the list is a 65 convertible. Restored or #2 drivers only. Let me know if you come across 1 Thanks!

 

I parted out several 65 Starfires and a couple did not have the lower bearing, which that I though was odd...

 

Tilt wheel jobs had no bearing . Regular columns did .

 

Good to know , Now why did the tilt not have the bearing ? Just curious ?

 

That is odd, esp since the parts book indicates all 63 and 66 columns in full size cars used one. Std, tilt (63) and tilt-tele (66).

I found out the hard way a 63 tilt column will not work in a 64 FSC. Time the knucklehead I bought it from lost the first money order that column cost me over $250 in 1985 dollars and then didn't work. About 3" too short.

 

Everything I've found says that rocketraider is correct. All 66 Olds and many many other GM vehicles take the same bearing. Part #7802845. I don't know how a steering column would work correctly without an upper and lower bearing? My steering shaft is loose in the bottom of the column with gap and play all the way around. Shakes a little and makes noise when turning. Anyway, there are many options available from original repops to new and improved designs. Found them on both ebay and amazon by using the part #.

 

Scroll down to "related posts" part of this thread and you'll see a member here has the improved version for sale.

You're more than welcome. It's why I have the parts books, to verify part #s and applications and help someone else searching for parts. Since I finally dug them out of storage a couple months back...

 

This took several twists. Turns out Charlie Jones was correct, some did not have lower bearings. Got bearing # 7082845, tore out steering column, didn't fit. Back to looking, found CJ's Rods and Machines in North Carolina, sent him a picture. Turns out I have a column shift steering column with the shift arm cut off the bottom in an original floor shift car. How does this stuff happen? Any way he suggested sending it to him and he would remove the shift tube and make it correct. Good winter project. For now I'm going to put a bronze bushing in it to get me through the show season. This guy knows his stuff on steering columns, look him up if you need anything.

 

Any idea what that column came out of? Because this is striking me as weird.

66 SF could have Strato-Bench seat with same column shift as 88/98, but per parts book it would have used same lower bearing as a floor shift column.

Which column do you have? Standard or tilt-telescopic? Post a pic.

 

It is a tilt wheel but not telescopic. No idea for sure what it may be out of, looks correct for the car other than the patched hole where the shift lever would have been We bought the car in 92 from the original owners. Elderly couple, bought it through their neighbor who dabbled in classic cars. Only thing I can think of is they bought the car with standard column and at some point decided they wanted tilt and had someone swap it out. Car was otherwise completely original with 89k miles. I haven't posted pics to this site so bear with me till I figure it out. And yes, you are correct, weird for sure.

 

There's a picture of the car, I'll work on the steering column

 

More likely there was some problem w original column and it got replaced. There was no tilt only option in 66. If you got tilt, telescopic came with it whether it was floor or column shift. Probably a 1965 column, since parts book concurs w Charlie and B01 that 65 tilt did not have a lower bearing.

 

I’d agree with rocketraider. My money is on a 65 column.

Would be a direct replacement for non-tilt from coupler to steering wheel. Heck even the stalks would swap right in and match.

Intelligent swap if you wanted better then non-tilt,but couldn’t find a ‘66 tilt & tele.

cf

 

My first thought is car had a T&T and something in it, most likely turn signal related, broke and couldn't get replacement parts. So to keep the car roadworthy and legally driveable, found a 65 column shift tilt and adapted it.

If you don't mind the current setup, keep it. But I think someone here could probably find you a working 1966 floor shift T&T.

 

Put the bronze oilite bushing in, enough of tube sticking out to use a center punch to secure it in the tube. Installed the column, works great. Don't know if I'll leave it this way or do something else with it this winter. I have a 66 straight column if I want to go that route. But for now, I have probably the only 66 Starfire with a tilt only column. Thanks to everyone for their input on this, had me puzzled for a while.