Opinions wanted Re: steering columns.

[Russell Ashley]

I'm going to have a 700R4 transmission installed in my truck, replacing the old manual three speed. I want a new tilt column with column shift. Summit has a good selection of columns, with their Summit brand being the lowest price while Flaming River is the highest, at double or triple the Summit brand. Has anyone here used a Summit column? I'd like to save money but not at the expense of safety. I'm planning on using a LoKar shift cable setup with which ever column I end up with. I welcome any and all advice on this. I won't be doing it myself due to my cancer and weakened condition but a friend will be doing it for me.

[my56chevytruck]

I've never bought a "Summit Racing" column, you might want to call their tech services line and ask them about the quality of their's vs the 2 I've listed. Summit Racing is a quality company to deal with, I'm sure they will give you good information. Have you looked at Ididit columns? I have one of those in one hot rod and a Flaming River in another. I don't know the costs you are wanting to maintain, but I believe these 2 columns are some of the best.

[mikebte]

Looks identical to the Demotor steering column that I have used in the past and I am currently using with no issues. I understand everyone's concern with safety and how the big brands are in many ways a better design.

At the same time, I have never talked to anyone that had an issue with a cheaper column.

[Kansas T]

I've had nothing but trouble from the Summit brand column that my customer bought. The turn signal switch shorted out after a few days of driving and the lock cylinder bound up shortly after that. They don't offer any replacement parts.

[mr48chev]

Ididit, Flaming River or Good condition stock GM or Mopar. forget the cheap aftermarket units.
Note: The innards on the 70's and early 80's Mopar are Saginaw.

It doesn't matter what modified automotive forum you go on on the net, the consensus is the same, the cheap Ebay or aftermarket tilt columns are a royal headache. It seems that if you haven't had trouble with one it is because you just flat don't drive the vehicle enough.

I've taken a lot of sloppy GM factory tilts apart and tightened them up over the past 40 years as my wife has a bad habit of pulling herself up by the wheel to reach the ignition switch or anything else she needs to reach. That has been on Buicks and Cadillacs for the most part. They do come lose if abused but you can tighten them up and go again. The cheap ones have plastic innards that just flat get sloppy in a hurry.

[Softpatch]

I just don't think you going to be happy with a Budget Tilt column.!

Like mr48chevy say you can use a GM tilt from a Wrecking yard and Do some tweeking
Repack the bearing /Re-adjust and fab some mounting brackets.
Personally i would use a 3rd gen F-body (Camero/Firebird ) column.... because there seem to be a plentiful and cheep Like other cars there seem to be a lot of Those V6 in the Wrecking yards...
but most GM cars tilt Column will work up to the mid 80's
Stay away from 90's and FWD (air bags,VATS, CC, High Beams,Wiper stick, radio controls) you will wast a lot of time trying to do a simple task with a fancy column.
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.........................Sp
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[Russell Ashley]

Thanks for everyone's comments, you have pretty much verified what I was thinking. I'm leaning toward a Flaming River column but wouldn't mind using an Ididit brand if they make one like I want. I only want turn signals, tilt, and gear indicator to keep the wiring changes to a minimum. My friend who will be doing the work says that the easiest thing would be to use a LoKar floor shifter but that's not what I want.

[mr48chev]

You have to go with what you want and are most comfortable with. Plus a Lokar shifter costs almost as much as the Flaming river column.

[_Ogre]

if you have a stock steering now, your stuck with the stock column
you'd need to clip or mustII your truck to change columns

if you already have updated the steering, you can't beat oem for price and engineering
my 58 truk has a $25 junkyard 86 chevy astro van column that works fine
you need to cover up the column to hide the wires, ignition, dimmer and ns safety switches

[Russell Ashley]

Thanks for the responses so far, and I have decided on how I want to go with the column. I think I will go with a Flaming River column and the LoKar shift cable setup. Now I have another question about floor clearance. My engine is in the original location with the rear mounts on the bell housing. That will go away and my new transmission will use a rear mount. The engine will need to stay in the same position as it is now. Am I going to have to raise the floor for the 400R4 transmission to clear? I used the search function but mostly the answers were for C10s or subframed trucks.

[talmadgemoss]

Russell
I went with the ididit tilt steering column and it went right in and was a quality piece. The picture shown I have it covered to protect the chrome. I'm also running a 700R4 transmission and in the process of hooking up the linkage hopefully this week, but foresee no issues there. I'm connected to a mustang II power rack.

[Russell Ashley]

Thanks. Your steering linkage is somewhat like mine in that I did have to use three u-joints. Did you have to do anything to your cab floor?

[Russell Ashley]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

if you have a stock steering now, your stuck with the stock column
you'd need to clip or mustII your truck to change columns

if you already have updated the steering, you can't beat oem for price and engineering
my 58 truk has a $25 junkyard 86 chevy astro van column that works fine
you need to cover up the column to hide the wires, ignition, dimmer and ns safety switches

I have a Scotts suspension. I do still have the stock column and I have shrunk the steering wheel to 15" but it's still not comfortable due to it's height. I have thought about a junk yard Astro column but my cancer messed up my back, so I'm not sure that I'm up to removing one if I found one. It sucks not being able to do things that I used to do. If it requires bending down it's a problem for me.

[talmadgemoss]

No it was a direct install through the same opening the original column went through.

[Russell Ashley]

Originally Posted by talmadgemoss

No it was a direct install through the same opening the original column went through.

I meant did you have to do anything to the floor to make room for the 700R4 transmission. Did you have to make a larger hump in the floor?

[mikebte]

Originally Posted by Russell Ashley

I meant did you have to do anything to the floor to make room for the 700R4 transmission. Did you have to make a larger hump in the floor?

My 4L60 fit with no modification to the firewall or floor. Lots of room under the old trucks.

[Russell Ashley]

Thanks, that's what I was hoping.

[talmadgemoss]

Sorry about that. No modification to the floor or the tunnel. Its close but have enough room not to worry about it.