Tilt Column Disassembly Problem

Well, you aren't going to believe this but this was part of a bigger project. I bought a repro tach and put it in my 70 Stage and put the original late 70 tach in my 71 car since the dash was half out with the column.

Here's where it gets weird:

So, it was all buttoned up and I only needed to test drive to check the steering wheel for true-straight ahead. Car would not start. I figured the battery was low from the door being open half a day.

Charged it up overnight. Come out to the garage and the GFCI breaker is tripped and it didn't charge.

Hit the reset and the charger starts humming like it always did and then it popped and I saw sparks inside the cover. Pulled the plug and let it cool a minute. Plugged it in and it seemed fine but kept popping every 1 minute. I check the battery and it was hitting 12.25 and then it would drop below 11 when the charger popped. Disconnected and went to get my battery tender/charger. I let it charge half a day.

Go out to start it and it won't fire and ran the battery down again! Let it charge for several more hours.

I went out an hour ago and decided to make sure it was getting gas. Check. Spark. No-go. Disconnected the recently added tach in case it was grounding something out. No-go. Checked coil by disconnecting the points and grounding to the alternator with the coil wire gapped to the adjuster arm. No spark. The coil is open between + and - terminals. Grab another coil out of my spare parts that was working when removed. Tested it the same way. Good spark.

So, put the different coil on, connected tach and she fired, loaded up as hell from pumping and cranking, but she fired and ran. Tach works, the steering wheel was two splines off-center but she's all good now!

 

Same thing happened to me when i was just getting the '71 back on the road. Shortly there after the fuseible lings crapped our.

 

Just to close the loop and show the finished project.

 

Hey @knucklebusted Good job on the refurb of your column. I have a question for you. I am trying to install my turn signal lever and don’t know how. I bought a refurbed column and the company didn’t install the turn signal lever because of shipping reasons.

I see three screws on the front black cover plate, if I take those out, does any (little parts like springs or anything) fall out. And does that give me access to where the turn signal lever attaches to. I’m assuming there is a screw inside there somewhere to attach to.

Thanks
Nick

 

No, that is the cover for the locking plate. All you will expose is the locking plate. Turn the wheel to the horn connection at about 10 o'clock and you will see a notch in the locking plate that gives you access to the turn signal screw.

Check this link. You don't have to pull the locking plate.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/M74ToGWmdm37QY4n7

 

Greg, what kind of bulbs do you have down there to heat your feet?

 

LEDs, check the electrical forum. I did all external bulbs and a lot of the interior. Same bulbs in reverse, license plate and under dash.