Steering Column Swap

Hey all-

I am in need of a column for my JEEP... 76 CJ5/360/3spd

I would like to get a tilt and don't want to do a bunch of fab work to get it to fit.

I am running a NEW painless wiring system front-to-back including dash gauges (gauges also new)

could someone please either suggest a replacement, or please tell me how to measure the length (where to where) so I can shop for my own?

thanks!!

mk

 

Wasn't 76 the year they switched to a larger GM style column with the key on the column?
Should be some junkyard options for that...

 

Yes, '75 was the last year for the narrow column, Sparton indicators and bus wheel. After that they used a GM locking column.

 

thanks everyone for the input!

i saw the ones that summit offers and will probably got that route since flaming river is so %$$**@# expensive...

just have to count the splines on the box so i can get the shaft too... im thinking Borgeson with a damper

thanks again!

 

My bud took the steering column out of a Camaro and put it in his 73.. Tilt and all.. He stuck with the OEM steering box..

 

NICE!... that's an option too I guess...

im still trying to learn what all parts will switch with what... SO many options!

 

I just bought a '73 CJ5 that someone had put in a GM tilt column that is just a huge sloppy piece of junk that doesn't work. What's involved with the using the Summit Racing steering column? Did you have to change the end of the steering column?


Here are pics of my setup from the previous owner:


http://s1295.photobucket.com/user/MitchCJ5/library/CJ5 steering upgrade

 

Saginaw columns can be rebuilt/repaired.

 

Tilt column fix - http://street2mud.com/webfiles/Tilt Column Fix.pdf

 

Well, I'm definitely leaning towards the Summit Racing 30" steering column for $209. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-771713r-nk/overview/ I'll be doing this in a few weeks and will take pictures.

 

So, where are the pics?

 

Last activity for member BigMitch was 16 months ago, so he's unlikely to respond. Send him an email if his profile allows it.

 

Sorry, I went down a rabbit hole. I pulled the roll bar off, pulled the dashboard off, and found an absolute rat's nest of wiring. I couldn't "unsee" it. So I ended up ripped out half of it, and pretty much re-wired the remaining. Also removed and patched about 5 aftermarket gauges and lights, and repainted the dashboard. About 6 times. Turns out metal flake blue is one of the harder paints to shoot, it show's EVERYTHING. During that, I found that whoever put the last aftermarket steering column in (a corvette telescoping & tilting column I think with a cracked cadillac wheel) didn't wire up hardly anything, so while I thought the turn signals had broken wires or something, most of that had never been hooked up! Then, I found the steering shaft had been welded together for some reason, so it was neither adjustable in length or able to collapse at all in a collision. Oh, and the joints were nasty. So I put in a new Borgeson, a work of art. Finally go the dashboard back in and steering column installed this spring. Still need to fab an aluminum cover to bold onto the top of the steering column slot on the dashboard.





Mitch

 

Looks nice!

I hear metallic paints are hard to shoot single-stage, and you can't shave and rub out runs like you can with solid colors. The easier way is to use base-clearcoat, and shoot the metallic base just to cover, almost dry. Then you can shoot the clear to give you a shine, and any runs or dust or bugs or whatever can be shaved and rubbed out and buffed.

 

Jeep looks great. Steering column looks like it belongs there too. Very reasonable price.

I shot some single stage metal flake on a bike I made. It was VERY difficult to get right. In the end it just doesn't look perfect, but what does?