I am installing a 454 into a orig small block Chevelle, I am also changing from a auto to a manual trans. I purchased a steering colunm from a 67 SS BB and the flange that mounts the column to the box is different. With help of others I found out the orig BB chevelle had a bolt on flange do to exhaust manifold clearance, so my new steering column would be perfect.. except when I inspected it I found some problems that are not able to be repaired. So the question I have is will my original steering colunm (with flange)fit with the big block ????sorry for the long post I was trying to give as much info as I could
Thanks

Let me say this, I just recently went from a SB to a BB in my 66 Malibu, it is a non power steering factory original car, also had it since day one so I know there have been no modifications at all. Mine also is a 4 speed. So what I am saying is a BB should go in your 67 just fine, I am runing headers also. If you are intersted I can suggest a place in N.C (not one of our regular Chevelle Venders) that are great folks to work with and could help you with the clutch hook up parts. I hope this helps you.

Jesse Robertson

Are you sure the column you purchased was really out of a Chevelle and not a Camaro or something else? You should be able to reuse your original steering shaft in the new column - they are pretty interchangeable. Did your new column look exactly like your old one except for not having a column mounted shift lever? My '65 was originally a three on the tree - removed the column shift lever, ground outside of column shift bowl off, filled it in and painted it over, then cut off the three speed shifter arms at the base of the column. At least in my case if I wasn't running raised exhaust port heads there would have been virtually no steering shaft interference with tube #5. I dimpled the header before having them ceramic coated, header installation goes best if you remove the steering shaft before installing driver's side header.

Thomas

The steering columns side by side are the same with the exception of the flange that attached to the rag joint to the box. From what I have been told and what my assembly manual shows that SS BB Chevelles have this bolt on flange because installing the column with the engine installed would be impossible or difficult to do. I have both columns apart and all the componets except the main shaft is the same. The Problem I have with the manual shaft is the threads that hold the steering wheel on are stripped and worn away not enough to retap any suggestions to repair that ?? Thanks for all your help
Tom

Jesse, Thats a very nice chevelle your driving I hope mine will look like that someday !!!

you could try heli-coils? if there is room I can't remember what your piece looks like but you basically drill out the thread with the given drill bit tap them oversize which is given then there is an insert you then loctite in that has the bigger thread on the outside and the original thread on the inside. They actually work pretty well in most cases.

because installing the column with the engine installed would be impossible or difficult to do.But if the column is installed first, there should be no problems... How often do you need to remove the column, once thats restored?

My buddies 66 Clone has the SB column, and removing the column was not possible without removing the drivers side header, all because of the flange.

BUT, we were able to drop the dash so we could get at the wiring for repairs, etc... A bit of an inconvenience, but it will work...

Thanks for the info Tony,
I agree, I hope once this is all back together I wont have to take it apart again (Yeah right).

I am going to try to make one good assy from the two I have, I can not seem to find standard column internal part ! Only tilt wheel parts are availible to rebuild but I should have enough to make 1 good one

Thanks to all

Well, I never considered it much of a trick, but here is how I install the SB steering shaft in my big block application:

1) Unbolt the steering gearbox.
2) Slide steering gearbox toward the engine.
3) Wa-La, you now have the space to slide the SB steering shaft into the steering column from the bottom side.

You *may* be able to rethread your BB steering shaft one size smaller and use an appropriate washer up top.

Thomas

Thanks Tom for the nice words about the 66, I am sure yours will look just as nice if not better, just keep pluging away at it and one day it will happen


Jesse