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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ Steering Column Swap

Posted by: eric914 Jan 16 2005, 12:02 PM

Can an early (1974) column assembly be put into a 1976 car? From a parts car I have a good switch assembly that has the steel outer case. Can this be used on a 1976 column?

Also, any tips on removing the housings once the socket head bolt has been removed?

Thanks

Posted by: eric914 Jan 16 2005, 02:58 PM

older style

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Posted by: eric914 Jan 16 2005, 02:58 PM

Newer style

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Posted by: eric914 Jan 16 2005, 02:59 PM

Older style switch assy

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Posted by: SirAndy Jan 16 2005, 03:04 PM

QUOTE (eric914 @ Jan 16 2005, 10:02 AM)
Can an early (1974) column assembly be put into a 1976 car? From a parts car I have a good switch assembly that has the steel outer case. Can this be used on a 1976 column?
Also, any tips on removing the housings once the socket head bolt has been removed?

'74 to '76 should be easy. i swapped a '74 in a '70 which was a royal PITA ...

as long as the mounting plate (with the 4 bolt holes) has the same size/shape/spacing, you'll be fine.
i don't think the wiring changed from '74 to '76 so the connectors should be the same as well.
to remove the housing, you have to remove the 2 clips that hold in the shaft. dunno what they're called, but you need a special tool to squeeze them for removal.
once those are gone, the shaft will slide out. when re-installing, make sure you got a good metal "sleeve" that will give you a snugg fit of the shaft inside the bearing.

i really only see major problems if you try to mix/match early and late columns.
that would be pre '72 and '72+ because everything is different between those.

again, '74 to '76 should be fine ...
IPB Image Andy

Posted by: jd74914 Jan 16 2005, 03:05 PM

Jeeez, I thought everything from '73 on was the same. I could be wrong though. I think the swap would work (Disclaimer: I've never done one)

Posted by: SirAndy Jan 16 2005, 03:24 PM

QUOTE (jd74914 @ Jan 16 2005, 01:05 PM)
Jeeez, I thought everything from '73 on was the same.

that basic hardware is the same, mounting plate, shaft etc.
what changed was the design of the lock and the housing ....

on pre '72 cars, even the length of the shaft and the angle the steering column is mounted are different. you'll have to do some serious grinding and IPB Image to fit a late column on a early car.
you even need to regrind the grooves on the shaft where the universal joint mounts ...
Andy

Posted by: Rhodes71/914 Jan 16 2005, 04:57 PM

Wish I would have known about the pre '72 being different from the later. I have a great later column that I was going to put in my 71, went to pull the one out of the 71 and noticed that the bolting was completely diff.

Anyone have a good '71 column they want to trade for a later one. No key though.

Posted by: jwalters Jan 16 2005, 06:21 PM

IPB Image I wonder ifn this is peculiar to certain years?? My 72 had a bad tumbler and shaft--I raped the one outta my donor 74 and it went right in--same harness connectors, mounting..hmmmmmm...maybe I should go scrutinize the chassis numbers----where are all of them????

Posted by: SirAndy Jan 16 2005, 11:49 PM

QUOTE (jwalters @ Jan 16 2005, 04:21 PM)
My 72 had a bad tumbler and shaft--I raped the one outta my donor 74 and it went right in--same harness connectors, mounting..hmmmmmm...maybe I should go scrutinize the chassis numbers----

'72 - '74 are the same, '75 and '76 are different but will fit '72 - '74, '70 and '71 are completely different and won't fit any '72+ or vice versa (unless you do some major IPB Image and change the wire harness)

Andy

Posted by: eric914 Jan 18 2005, 09:37 AM

Thanks to all who responded.

I have completed the swap and once I realized I needed to have a key in the switch to release the lock IPB Image it went well. The new 74 piece replaced the 76 piece perfectly. In my opinion the steel outer housing of the 74 is nicer than the plastic housing of the 75-76. All lights and turn signal functions now seem to work.

Now.....onto rebuilding the front suspension.

Eric

Posted by: Lawrence Jan 18 2005, 11:53 AM

Good job, Eric! Good luck with the front suspension! IPB Image

Posted by: ClayPerrine Jan 18 2005, 11:59 AM

Wish I had been around to see this post sooner.. We did this to Yoder's car a few years ago. We were trying to fix the "haunted horn" syndrome that he has. It didn't work.

The fun part was that Yoder couldn't figure out how to start the car afterwords. He had to push on the key to get it to turn. The 75/76 lock just turns. IPB Image

Posted by: Rockaria Jan 18 2005, 12:06 PM

QUOTE (eric914 @ Jan 16 2005, 12:02 PM)
Can an early (1974) column assembly be put into a 1976 car? From a parts car I have a good switch assembly that has the steel outer case. Can this be used on a 1976 column?

Also, any tips on removing the housings once the socket head bolt has been removed?

Thanks

I've done it as well. It is a direct swap.