Guys, I have what I believe to be is a mid 70's Camaro Steering column with tilt that I am considering putting into my 66.

Question: Can it be done, and can the key/auto shift on the F-car column be shaved/mechanisms removed. Goal is to have a tilt column with key in dash and shifter on floor.

If this is doable I will sell my std 66 floor shift column.

Anything is possible but shaving the key mount off will be difficult as the material is a cast plastic and isn't easy to work with. Shaving the shifter off is easy because the collar is metal. I just did this to a tilt/tele column that was reuilt for the Nova project.

I still have the switch collar if you want it to practice on, it was damaged beyond repair from an attempted theft of the donor car.

The pin for the lock plate mechanism will need to be removed and the floor plate will need to be installed on the F body column. The under dash mount will need to be fabricated as the early columns mount very differently. If you decide to do it get the intermediate shaft from the F body as you will need it.

Here is how I patched the hole for the shifter.

After cutting the knob off I epoxied some steel screen in the hole and covered with bondo, sanded smooth and painted.

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j199/64elcamino/77%20Nova%20project/interior/tilttelecolumn.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j199/64elcamino/77%20Nova%20project/interior/tilttelecolumn2.jpg

In addition to what Phillip mentioned, I am pretty sure you will need to enlarge the existing "arch"/notch at the bottom of your dash. 1966 was the last year to use the smaller column, and therefore a smaller notch (1967 columns had the larger notch is the lower dash because the column diameter was larger)...

Guys thanks for the input. I was afraid to tackle this job, but now Im thinking I can pull it off. I think I will use fiberglass to shave everything.

Anyone know how to pull a lock cylinder without the key?

The lock cylinder on the column does not require a key to remove. It is either held in with a spring loaded tab or a bolt depending on the year of the column.

The lock cylinder on the column does not require a key to remove. It is either held in with a spring loaded tab or a bolt depending on the year of the column.


I guess I mis-interpreted the info I was looking at. Thanks for posting, that eliminates one of the hurdles I was facing.