Can anyone tell me what holds on the shroud around the steering column?

Housing is one piece. You have to pull column and take guts out. From what i hear, it is easier to just get a newer column than to fix them. Early 70-71 are hardest to work on

so there is now way to take the "shroud" off

You can't take apart the shroud, but you can take the stuff out of the shroud.

Shroud is held on by one bolt under to the left. You can remove everything from it and then slide it off.
HTH

thanks

I've had mine apart a couple of times for replacement of the ignition switch. Follow the Haynes manual procedure for steering wheel and column removal, page 105. It won't be very clear when you begin, but you can figure it out. When you finish it still won't be clear.

Amen to that brother.

Try this link:Bird ignition switch article

Was pretty helpful to me.

I'll do one better for ya. Here is the bottom view of a removed steering column. You can see the single 8mm(?) bolt that holds it on.

After you remove the guts (4 screws that hold in the switch assemblies), and remove the cover for the ignition switch you can slide the collar off of the shaft. In the picture is my bearing as well, but you dont need to remove this unless there is a reason.

don't touch the bearing, you don't need to. Did you remove the ignition switch? If yes then just tug on it. It is hard to get off. Just wiggle it back and forth. It is an interferance fit at this point.
HTH

it came off. what a PITA. cleaned it up, looks like new (gloss black)

thanks for your help

What, are you copying me punk?!

no. youre copying me! It looks better than new now! thanks for the idea!

p.s. : hows "the stuff" ?

Dood, NOTHING looks better than new, you should have seen these things when they were new... it's fun to walk down a row of ones that smell new.

oh jeees... wow..


m

uh, what stuff?
This stuff?

Shhhh, I'll have it for you this weekend.