Big car steering column nut

I am working on repairing the steering column on a '71 Riviera. It has tilt like most of them. The issue is that someone has been into the column before and obviously didn't know what they were doing. There are broken parts, missing parts and parts that are loose. The loose part and not being able to turn the ignition cylinder was the reason to dig into this in the first place. In order to move the car I need to be able to steer the car and without a column that functions that is not easily done.

After taking the column apart and comparing it to a donor column I have to use as practice on the bench before returning to the project car. One of the parts missing from the car is the large nut that threads onto the upper most section of the sheering shaft. These threads are above the tilt joint and above where the upper bearing, race, and spacer are supposed to be. This nut is illustrated in the parts catalog and it has a part number as well. What is not notec is the size of the nut So how big is it? Well after removing the nut from the donor column with a pair of medium sized adjustable pliers I measured it. It is 1-3/16". It is a a nylock fine thread item. Part number 5698741. It is NOT listed as being applicable to the Riv but other models and years. To remove it I would have preferred a thin wall, 1-3/16" by 3.25" deep 1/2 drive 6-point socket. I don't own one and wasn't able to find on locally. I don't know if such a socket is made but I'll find out and update this thread.

What I have discovered in using the factory service manual, parts catalog , and a few hours watching videos of people working on GM columns is that there are several variations and that most people posting videos are NOT qualified to be tinkering with a steering column. There are a few who are but most are not.

 

Interesting tool. I don't think I've ever seen one. The metric to SAE is my only concern. I don't like mixing sizes if I can avoid it. I wonder if they make this tool in SAE sizes?