Steering column question - curved collar piece?

Discussion in 'The whoa and the sway.' started by Utah455, Oct 11, 2020.

  1. Utah455

    Utah455 Platinum Level Contributor

    So just getting around to installing a refurbished column that I bought a while back and was told it was for a Buick GS. I noticed my old column has a curved edge on the collar while the new one has a straight edge collar. What’s the purpose of the curved edge?

    Thanks
    Nick

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  2. knucklebusted

    knucklebusted Well-Known Member

    I think it has to do with how much the dash hides of it. GM wasn't going to spend an extra nickel if they could save a few on casting less material that will never be seen.

    You are going from column shift to floor shift?

    My tilt column shift that I converted to floor shift has that groove.
    [​IMG]

    The factory non-tilt original I pulled out of my 71 GS 4 speed also had the rounded notch. You won't be able to see it once installed. Unless you are going for concourse correct, it won't matter.
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  3. Utah455

    Utah455 Platinum Level Contributor

    @knucklebusted
    I have a floor shift but at some point in its life someone crashed it and put a column shift tilt column in but remove the column shift handle. Always been a floor shifter.

    instead of rebuilding, I bought one already rebuilt for a floor shift. That’s the only difference I see and the and the guy I bought it from said it was for a a Buick.

    upon installing I did notice that when I hooked up the park thru drive lever in the bottom of the speedometer, hit the extra metal. It wouldn’t select to L1 gear. I wound up putting two thick washers on each side of the column to shim it down almost a quarter inch. Hence the large gap now between the dash and column. But the gear selector now moves down to show L1 on the Speedo. I think that’s why the column piece is curved like that. Just my guess.

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  4. Max Damage

    Max Damage I'm working on it!

    it's always something...
     

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