I was visiting my local salvage yard and i found a 1980 malibu with a tilt steering column,but i am not sure it fits,has anyone tried to fit one?I was originally looking for a brake booster for my ´71 but the ´80 Malibu´s doesn´t fit,the 4 bolts are too far from the original holes in my ´71 firewall.
Thanks in advance
HR

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Halldor Ragnarsson Reykjavik
Malibu ´71
There are no problems,only solutions
Member#729

Actually, the columns are quite similiar and will interchange. The problem is that the 80's columns have the dimmer and wiper switches on the turn signal handle. Where they are on the floor and dash in the 70....

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"Jungle" Jim
#105 Gold
70SS396 & 70 Malibu
"I don't drive FAST, I just FLY low!"

HR, I don't know what your budget is on this, but I've got a good source for professionally rebuilt tilt-columns for what I thought was a reasonable price. If you're interested, e-mail me off-board or repost and I can e-mail you the info.

Also, I believe the 79-later steering shaft has 2 flats to connect to the coupling, whereas the 78-earlier steering shafts are splined with a cross groove for a bolt. Therefore, you need to stay with 78-earlier columns.

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Tom Parsons

Thanks Tom,when i removed it from the car,the
coupling in this one had a bolt through it and a flat?
I have to check it out better,the upper bracket is wider too,than the ´71 piece,but the old one might fit instead.The lower cover for the firewall is also different,it is welded to the tube,but the older one is bolted with a clamp,it has to be modified.i haven´t verified the correct model year of this Malibu,it might be 78 or´79 vintage.
Thanks for your help.
HR

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Halldor Ragnarsson Reykjavik
Malibu ´71
There are no problems,only solutions
Member#729

And i almost forgot,i paid a whopping 21$ for this item http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif
HR

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Halldor Ragnarsson Reykjavik
Malibu ´71
There are no problems,only solutions
Member#729

While you've got it out . . some good advice I got from Philip Valentine . . check the rag joint.

DZ auto was correct about the interchange issue starting in 79. If you get the intermediate shaft from the same car, or a 79 up Impala etc These are "energy adsorbing" and basically have adjustable legnth and have the rag joint riveted onto the shaft, you can adapt this to the original rag joint easier that modifying the connection to the steering collumn. Or better yet this will leave you with a setup you can bolt in a Monte SS box for quick steering etc. Dont get a regular Monte box they are junk, Also Camaro/firebird from the 80's good score. If you find a original 14 or 15 inch wheel Trans Am/Camaro they will have a pretty good turning radius.

The section of the collumn that bolts to the floor pan may need tweaking but may be direct fit not sure. You can probably plug right into the ign switch, the turn sig may need another plug, or swap in the old one??

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Frank W
Arlington MA
74 Laguna S3 !! 305 Crane Blazer 284 Cam
73 Malibu Coupe Organ donor living on in my Laguna and other cars

hometown.aol.com/folingo/ (http://hometown.aol.com/folingo/)

i put a tilt column out of an 88 trans am in my 70 chevelle. i cut the firewall mount off of the end of the column because on my malibu the tube is supported by the two piece bracket on the firewall. the tube fits well in this bracket. it was a bit shorter so i extended the collapsable tube a bit. the joints are different where they connect between the column and the steering box. i used a n inntermadiate shaft from a 96 impala and a gear box from a 93 s-10 blazer. it bolted right up to my frame, put my pitman arm on the blazer box, worked out fine.

Can't give you too many specifics (too long ago), but I installed (still have) the column out of an '81 Caddilac Seville. I remember having to be creative with the connecting shaft, but it bolted right up to the firewall on my '69 using the stock column's plate! Bolted right up to under the dash as well ( I seem to remember a minor problem here, but can't be sure). Regardless, thought you'd like to know that it is possible to put a tilt/telescoping column in a '69 with a "little" mod. BTW, the column I have has no wiper controls on it. Just the original housing for the autotrans lever.