55.2-59 steering colum - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

duramax55 · 11-21-2018, 11:39 PM

hi was wondering if anyone has bought or used some of the cheap colums and what do you think about them? are they worth considering? or are they just junk thanks Denis

mr48chev · 11-22-2018, 01:23 AM

There are pages on here and every other hot rod, truck and custom car forum on the net about the foibles of running a cheap aftermarket steering column. If the budget doesn't allow for an Ididit or Flaming River run an OEM GM column and be done with it.
It's just not worth the headaches and expense to have to deal with and then replace one of the cheap ones.

**joedoh** · 11-22-2018, 01:59 AM

going cheap on steering or brakes is a stupid way to die.

MiraclePieCo · 11-22-2018, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duramax55

hi was wondering if anyone has bought or used some of the cheap columns and what do you think about them? are they worth considering? or are they just junk thanks Denis

What are we talking here - just a straight simple column, or something more elaborate with tilt, lock, air bag, etc? Columns are really simple and foolproof until you start adding complicated components which multiply the chance of malfunction.

How about showing us the specific unit you're considering?

MD2020 · 11-22-2018, 07:38 AM

I just bought a ididit tilt.
I did a search and found that the U joint parts (In the tilt ) were plastic in some of the cheep one's and were breaking. I never could find out if that was fixed.

MiraclePieCo · 11-22-2018, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MD2020

I just bought a ididit tilt.
I did a search and found that the U joint parts (In the tilt ) were plastic in some of the cheep one's and were breaking. I never could find out if that was fixed.

Plastic steering? Ha ha, well I guess they make plastic leaf springs, so why not?

svr · 11-22-2018, 06:21 PM

I was choking on the price of the ididit's and flaming rivers. After reading stories of the china builts i decided to look for a oem column, found a decent looking mid 70's floor shift tilt chevy pickup column for $50 on craigs list. Took it all apart and shaved the ignition switch and lock because i wanted to leave the key on the dash. Its a little longer than i thought i wanted but in the end it worked out perfect. New bearings and lock tight some screws in the tilt, and some paint to match and it ended up costing less than a china column

duramax55 · 11-22-2018, 11:16 PM

ok thanks guys and yes it will be a tilt.

e015475 · 11-23-2018, 07:44 AM

I have several vehicles with tilt columns, but once set, I don't seem to change the position much.

Just my taste, but I also think a tilt column with an ignition switch looks a little odd in an old truck.

I used a straight column out of a fifties Cadillac and worked to get the ergonomics right so I wouldn't miss the tilt. I shaved the gear selector off the pot metal and put a 'column saver' bearing in to get the tube to the right length. I cut a double D in the shaft to take a common steering u joint.

I suppose if I counted the time I spent making it work at $10 an hour, and the parts and machining I could have bought an Ididit

Repurposed GM or one of the US made hot rod columns would be ok, but I'm not trusting my life to a Chinese column

11-21-2018, 11:39 PM	#1
duramax55 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Aubigny Posts: 207	steering colum hi was wondering if anyone has bought or used some of the cheap colums and what do you think about them? are they worth considering? or are they just junk thanks Denis

11-22-2018, 01:23 AM	#2
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,283	Re: steering colum There are pages on here and every other hot rod, truck and custom car forum on the net about the foibles of running a cheap aftermarket steering column. If the budget doesn't allow for an Ididit or Flaming River run an OEM GM column and be done with it. It's just not worth the headaches and expense to have to deal with and then replace one of the cheap ones. __________________ Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around.

11-22-2018, 01:59 AM	#3
joedoh Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Doodah Kansas Posts: 7,747	Re: steering colum going cheap on steering or brakes is a stupid way to die. __________________ the mass of men live lives of quiet desperation if there is a problem, I can have it. new project WAYNE http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=844393

11-22-2018, 07:38 AM	#5
MD2020 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Batesville,MISSISSIPPI Posts: 312	Re: steering colum I just bought a ididit tilt. I did a search and found that the U joint parts (In the tilt ) were plastic in some of the cheep one's and were breaking. I never could find out if that was fixed.

11-22-2018, 06:21 PM	#7
svr Registered User Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Othello washington Posts: 400	Re: steering colum I was choking on the price of the ididit's and flaming rivers. After reading stories of the china builts i decided to look for a oem column, found a decent looking mid 70's floor shift tilt chevy pickup column for $50 on craigs list. Took it all apart and shaved the ignition switch and lock because i wanted to leave the key on the dash. Its a little longer than i thought i wanted but in the end it worked out perfect. New bearings and lock tight some screws in the tilt, and some paint to match and it ended up costing less than a china column __________________ 57 short box, 235, T5, C4 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=739132

11-22-2018, 11:16 PM	#8
duramax55 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Aubigny Posts: 207	Re: steering colum ok thanks guys and yes it will be a tilt.

11-23-2018, 07:44 AM	#9
e015475 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Show Low, Arizona Posts: 759	Re: steering colum I have several vehicles with tilt columns, but once set, I don't seem to change the position much. Just my taste, but I also think a tilt column with an ignition switch looks a little odd in an old truck. I used a straight column out of a fifties Cadillac and worked to get the ergonomics right so I wouldn't miss the tilt. I shaved the gear selector off the pot metal and put a 'column saver' bearing in to get the tube to the right length. I cut a double D in the shaft to take a common steering u joint. I suppose if I counted the time I spent making it work at $10 an hour, and the parts and machining I could have bought an Ididit Repurposed GM or one of the US made hot rod columns would be ok, but I'm not trusting my life to a Chinese column



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