The current steering column i have on my 1967 riv does not have the turn signal lever attached. but the good news is that when i bought the car, the guy gave me an extra steering column that fits and has a working turn signal lever. is it easy to remove the existing column and replace it with the extra one the i have? is it as easy as unbolting everything, cutting wires, and then re-connecting the wires and rebolting? please help i am a college student with low finances but love my riv so much. i want to be able to fix it myself and save myself some pocket money. thanks for any helpful info. john
Aw jeez........ Removing and replacing that can be a real P.I.T.A.ou: If possible, I'd say fix the broken lever if you can rather than replace that whole column. Once you pull the wheel, the lever screws are easy to get to.......but removing that entire switch is really tough unless you have a lot of patience. Perhaps the screw just came out and someone lost the lever? A used lever should be easy to find........I may even have one. It holds on with only one phillips screw. Buick in '67 thought it would be cool to use 2 different kinds of directional switches in the Riv. One is pink........it's very hard to find new. (I have a NOS that I'm not sure if I want to sell.) There is also a white one. That's the better one (imho). Also hard to find. You can get a repair kit for that one at Advance if they still stock them......they don't list it, you have to match it up. It should be with all those "help" parts hanging on the rack. Do you know what color switch you have-and is the lever broken off or just missing?
on the extra steering column, the lever is attached to the pink one. i tried to take it off but it is so hard to take out. i just thought i can replace the whole column bcuz it would be easier.
I'll assume what you mean is that the switch is broken in the column that is currently in the car. Tough call as to whether it's easier to just replace the whole column. Make sure both columns are the same.........the column shift type is totally different from the console shift type, they are not interchangable. It doesn't matter if one is a tilt column and the other is not, unless you are swapping the switches......they're different. Only thing that can be tough is seperating the column from the rag joint. Make sure the lower column bearing is good on the replacement column before considering using it. You will need a helper inside the car in order to do this. The 12 point bolt has to come completely out of the pinch collar or you won't be able to seperate it. Otherwise, the wires simply unplug, no cutting or splicing required. Only thing is if you have cornering lights.......I don't mean the directional lights in front....I'm talking about the clear ones on the bottom of the sides of the front fenders. The directional switches are different for these, they have 3 extra wires to work the cornering lights. If your car doesn't have these, then don't worry about them the extra wire it just hangs there. Personally, I'd opt for just replacing the switch but without a service manual that's tricky to do. You'll need a steering wheel puller. And that collar at the top of the tilt column is nearly impossible to remove without damaging it.......and it has to be removed in order to get the switch out. I used a lot of patience getting mine to come off. I tapped it gently with a small hammer and a screwdriver blade along the edge where it meets the tilt base. Once you get it to crack loose, tapping it off a little at a time becomes easier as you go along. Perhaps you could experiment on the bad column first.......Good luck! :TU:
The difference in the turn signal switches. From Gr 2.895- 67-68 All less cornering lamps #7800482 (delco color code white or green) 67 all w/cornering lamps #7800483 (delco color code white) 67-68 All with or without cornering lamps #7805675 (bpm color code red) As a note- My 68 Riv HAS cornering lights and the switch is red The 69s have two different ones too, with or without the cornering lamps
Hmmm...thin is interesting. Didnt know they repro'ed this 67-68-PONTIAC-BUICK-OLDS-TURN-SIGNAL-SWITCH-7800483
It doesn't say that it fits the Riviera though...........I wonder what the difference is? I do know the tilt wheel switch is unique. If it fits, for 39 bucks that's a bargain! uzzled: I noticed a green switch in your list....that may be for the non-tilt column? I've never seen one of those yet.
Its the same part number, so I would say it would. I dont remember what the connections look like. They do list it as fitting the 68 Buick. But as you know, everything is different for a 9000 series. They should of just written a separate manual! I listed the part numbers verbatim out of the parts book I have. I havent seen a green one either Only the white or red (pink)
Re: 1968 TS Switch I managed to get an NOS (BPM Red with cnr lamps) for my '68 for $50 about 3years ago, and I have never seen a green one iether, just red or white. If it fits - and I think it should, that repro is a bargain at that price. Much easier changing out a switch than a whole colume ! :TU:
I know for a fact that '67 and '68 are identical, because in the past I used a switch from a '68 in mine. It only lasted about 1 year until the return tab broke off that that one too!:blast: I was very lucky and found a white one in a parts car.......it works smoother and I was able to get a new repair kit for it so it's good as new. The white one has a way better design. :TU:
thanks, i think what i will do is see if i can try to take the pink part out of the extra column. if that doesnt work, then i guess i will try to swap the columns. wish me luck
