Steering column interchangability?, Can I change out my early column for later model. Options

[deemsriddle]

The steering column in my 1971 914 started out with problems starting. The starter would not engage every time but would always start eventually. Now the switch is hung up in the start position. I know that Ii need a new column, but wonder if the columns and interchangeable? The wiring should be doable, but are there any other considerations?

[dr914@autoatlanta.com]

the easiest thing to do (although it is not that easy) is to replace the switch.

To change to the later column, you would have to weld brackets into your car and change the wiring harness around. NOT easy NOT fun

The steering column in my 1971 914 started out with problems starting. The starter would not engage every time but would always start eventually. Now the switch is hung up in the start position. I know that Ii need a new column, but wonder if the columns and interchangeable? The wiring should be doable, but are there any other considerations?

[SirAndy]

To change to the later column, you would have to weld brackets into your car and change the wiring harness around. NOT easy NOT fun

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I put a '74 steering column and main wiring harness in my '70 car and it was a royal pain in the arse.

As the Dr. mentioned, i had to drill, grind and weld the column support under the dash to accept the '74 unit.

I also had to customize the steering shaft that goes down to the steering coupler since the attachment points on the column are in a different location and the geometry doesn't work (the u-joints will bind!), i had to shorten the downlink and re-groove the shaft for the bolts to get the correct geometry.

The wiring of the column was not problem for me since i also went with a complete '74 main harness. But that in itself was also no simple undertaking.

Trying to match the '74 column wiring to a early wiring harness looks like a nightmare since the stock connectors don't match and the wires don't match either.
For starters, early cars have the windshield wiper switch on the dash, not on the column. But there's more mismatch.

TL:DR
Tons of work, not worth it, wouldn't do it again ...

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