corvettecris

What columns will fit? 68 F body? Any others?

Cali,68,L-79

I'm thinking of using a 79 tilt.

Flareside

You can't really use a later column in a '68 because of the ignition key location. The later columns contain the ignition. If you swap the column, you'll want to swap the dash too and that takes away one of the nice 68-only features.

Flaming River sells a tilt steering column (without a key) that fits the 68.

Corey_68

:iagree: We have used countless Flaming River parts in my dad's shop. Later on I plan on making the swap. :yesnod:

Jim Shea

The 1967-68 Corvette steering column was unique. The tubular part under the dash that was designed to collapse and absorb energy was smaller in diameter than any other GM steering columns. So I doubt that any other GM column will fit up into the Corvette dash. In 1969, when GM went to locking steering columns, Corvette used the same basic column parts as the rest of GM.

All GM steering columns from 1967 onward have been designed to collapse and absorb energy in a severe frontal collision. GM and Saginaw Steering Gear spent millions of dollars designing and developing vehicle bodies, steering columns, and steering wheels to act together and save lives. I really hate to see a vehicle that is driven on the street, retrofitted back to a rigid design steering column.

hawgn68

I have a '73 tilt column with wheel I'd trade for the '68 if you're interested. It does have the key on the column.

Jim

corvettecris

Is it telescopic also?

wacked

What Jim Shea said:)
:thumbs:

corvettecris

Well, im not so interested in tilt as I am in getting the steering wheel off of ,y lap. Its one of those fake wood grain ones, that I guess was original, but its 16"(!!!) in diameter. It hits my legs, and looks like it belongs in a semi. Is there a bolt on steering wheel that is more like 14" that I can use?

GDaina

Aftermarket wheels will work

lostpatrolman

Couldnt the key in the column be shaved off and bondo'd over?

corvettecris

I thought of that actually...I wonder. It would be alot of work, though....

GDaina

The steering clock....you have to deal with the steering lock and that whole mechanism...

BBShark

68 Corvettes also use a heavy steel cast bracket to attach the column to the dash. The later GM columns may be a problem unless you swap the casting with a later bracket. As far as the ignition key hole, you could put an aux light in the hole.

GrandSportC3

I have a '76 tilt & telescopic steering column (with '78 and '69 column parts) and it has an ignition key...

corvettecris

hey hawgn68, is your column tele? Got any pics?

Jay M

I added a Momo steering wheel to my '68. It is smaller and farther away now.. that is good...but... It is now at my knees. tilt wheel would be perfect! But I decided to take Jim's advice and stick with a collapsable column.

Flaming river and Ididit both make tilt columns that fit '68s, but neither of them are colapasable. That is a major saftey concern. When I asked this same question a few months ago A forum member who was a tow truck driver in the 60s told me how horrible it was when the steering column went through someones chest, and how the colapsable ones really do make a difference.

I drive my car 6 days a week when the weather is good so safety is important to me.

~Jay

68shark

I had a similar gripe with my '68. Just takes getting used to. I now find it's very comfortable but I've simply adapted my body to the car, not the other way round! Suggest if still a problem, switch steering wheels to the more common '69 and up version which is 1" smaller diameter. Of course, if manual steering, there will be a slight increase in turning effort due to reduced leverage. '67 and '68 use the same wheel. My guess is for '69 and later, that the increasing sales of power steering made it practical to reduce the size of the wheel.

LemansBlue68

Browsing through my Corvette America catalog I saw a 14" mahogany wheel that is styled like the '68 wheel. It's a 3 spoke brushed aluminum with a little bit fatter rim for better grip. Very nice looking. I was thinking about buying one for myself and hanging on to the the 16" wheel for future reference. They claim their wheel is a direct bolt on for all except '76 MY (which had the funky Vega wheel). Price is $130.

BigBadRed

Problem solved!! :lol: