88-98 column in these trucks?

[special-K]

I have a`90 Blazer with a 4spd manual.That`s pretty rare in itself.I'd like to get a tilt column.4spds with tilts are rare,too.I know I can go back through the years on this style,but it won`t be easy finding one.
My question:Has anyone used a later column from the 88-90 style trucks?I know where I can get a 4spd tilt from a`92,but need to confirm it`ll work first.

[b454rat]

I have a column from an 88-up, and would like to know the same thing!! I don't have a 73-87 yet, but will be getting one soon!!!

[edman87]

I have removed/ installed and tore apart columns on both of them(my 91 broke in half while driving) and there are many interchangeable parts on 81?- may go back farther- -94 but I think the length is slightly different. They might bolt right up and just be marginally shorter or longer. I could be wrong on this, but think there is like 1.5 inch diff. MANY parts interchange from vans, cars and trucks from 80's through early 90's. I just put sme parts from a 87k5 and a89 k5 column into my 91 camaro yesterday. When my 91 c1500 column fell apart, I used a tube from a burned 89 and most other parts from an early 80's van. That was 5 years ago, but at the time I had access to several 73-87 trucks, but didn't use a column from them for some reason and I think it was because the lower tube and shaft is a different length. Also if trying to use an older column on a newer truck, you have to have 1 with the same dimmer swith style.

[edman87]

Why do you need to change it anyway? The 88 up truck columns ar notorius for breaking the ears off the lower tube- part of what happened to me. I was luckt I was making a turn and going slow when it fell apart because the steering wheel hit my lap and locked in place, turned left and put me in a ditch. That wouldahve sucked on the highway! This is not real common, but I do know of a few people that this happened to with 88- about 93 trucks.

[special-K]

I just want to have "tilt" in my`90 Blazer with manual floor shift.I have an auto-tilt in my`91 Suburban that I`m parting.What can I do to make that work?Just get a tilt cup w/o shifter?I guess GM would have them.

[edman87]

That would be the easiest way, the 91 will b e identical. The no auto covers are kinda hard to find though. I would actually like one for myself for my 87 k3 4 speed conversion. The covers for the 88 up trucks are the same for manual, I believe the cover will go right on an older column.

[special-K]

Thanks for your info.I know squat about columns.I should be able to go to the dealer.I can even give a VIN#,my`92 K3500 is a 5spd w/tilt.

[edman87]

I can't promise everything I stated is 100%, but to the best of my knowledge it is. I have don several column swaps, teardowns etc on 81-98 in the last couple years. If the cover is avail at dealer, let me know, I will probably get 1 myself. My local dealer is a PITA about parts or any kind of help, but will go to another town dealer if it is available for order.

[special-K]

Ok,it might not be right away.I`ll shoot you a pm with the part #,so your p.i.t.a. partsman will be happy.I`ve gone to the same dealer for 25+ years.When they hire a guy that has a bad attitude on looking up parts for old GMs,I just make their day even harder.I can only remember one at the moment.

[edman87]

I don't care for the dealer in general and the parts guy is just an a$$. It is a small town and the ford dealer is great, but chevy isn't. I do my best to not use them if I can help it, have another dealer 30 min away that I use. Bad thing is, this guy has been there as long as the dealership and I am not the only 1 that doesn't like him. I think he is kin to the owner by marriage. I tried to get some syntorq for my nv4500 and he told me that there was no such thing and if it was a castrol part to go to napa and get, so I gave him the GM part # for syntorq and he looked it up and said I would have to buy a whole case because they would never use it all there. Every nv4500 MUST use syntorq, so there is another reason I would never have somthing serviced there.
My brother in law broke his hood release cable on 95 c1500 and dealer told him they could only order 6 cables at a time and would not order/sell him just 1!
The gas cap in my 98k2500 decided not to vent and cabed in the tank and I stopped to ask for a quote on a new tank. He laughed, asked if I ran over a stump and said about $600 without ever checking. I told him the crappy GM cap failed and the fuel pump sucked it in like a soda can and put 6 cracks in the tank.
Last straw was when I bought a door lock cylinder for my 98 k2500 and asked how much they would charge to key(swap the springs and plates) to my new cylinder as I was scared I would lose a spring or somthing. Keep in mind I had the old cyl in my hand and showed it to them. I also asked for any tips on not making the springs fly across the shop and he said "oh, I can't tell you that" like it was top secret info. They wanted $80to do it, I said no thanks and went home and pushed the plates and springs out and put them in new cyl in less than 2 minutes. He was not interested in being helpful at all.
Luckily, I have a buddy that works at a small no-name auto and body shop that can get me most dealer only parts for cost.
Anyway, enough of my rant on my local dealer. He just won't get the buisness of me and my always needing parts trucks. I am glad you have a better relationship with your dealer.

[lilpup69chevy]

you know special k someone did a post on how to do the auto to 4 spd conversion on a 67-72 column which would work just grind off the shifter boss on it and jb weld it up then grind it and fill it then paint it after you prime it of course or i'm pretty sure you could take that section out and replace it with a 4 spd column part i know the columns look pretty well similar from 73-94

[special-K]

I`ll get to the bottom of the swap thing,yet.I just need the opportunity to head down to my dealer.I`m working 1hr+ in the opposite direction right now.