I have a 67 Malibu that has a worn out column. The column is also a column shift type, and the car has a console from a 67 SS in it. I want to rebuild the column, and while I am at it I want to convert the column to look like the car was a floor shift.

I have seen a few places that advertise column rebuilding, but the price is ~$300.00. I can get a new Flaming River tilt column for this price, so it seems kind of high.

Does anyone have any experience with this? What do you folks recommend?

Thanks for the help.

original columns can be scarce, especially for 1967 (and 1968) columns, and not too many folks that work on them... The higher price for a rebuild is likley because the amount of work and parts going into it, as well as the demand, while the new columns can be mass produced, and the column design idealized to fit many models with minimal modifications, therefore making the price less...

Personally, I would look toward the Flaming River. My floor shift/tilt column is a little loose, but okay, and I figure a nice NEW tilt would probably cost about what I could sell my original column (not original to my car)... I'd rather have a nice new tight tilt column anyway...

But be aware, there may be other parts needed to adapt the column (and therefore more money).

I don't think it will be easy finding the pieces to convert yours to a floor shift, as they are scarce...

Thanks for the input Tony. I checked on the Flaming River column. There is an adaptor to mount it to the dash, but from my reading of the applications, it is optional. (i.e., want to look even cooler, buy this mount) I would need a wiring adaptor, but the cost is minimal, and the column looks great, as well as being tilt, which my old one is not. I think I will go with the new one.

Sid

I really hate to see the original energy absorbing steering column being removed and replace by a rigid steering column in vehicles that are driven on the street. General Motors and Saginaw Steering Gear spent millions of dollars and ran hundreds of tests to provide a collapsible, energy absorbing steering column for increased driver safety in a frontal collision.

I would really encourage you to scout the parts vendors at car shows for 1967 or 1968 A-car tilt columns that will bolt right into your car.