Hello Friends.
I finally found time to work on my steering column. You may recall that I installed a new column as my ’68 ‘vert came with a 69 column. I had an electrical issue and have been trying my best to diagnose. The original harness had been cut and spliced to the 1969 column and now I am poking around in there trying to get it back to ’68. The hazards would flash constantly, brake lights would work if I pulled the flasher relay – no signals….its been a real pita.
Anyway, I posted here and the advice was not to open the column as fishing wires is a nightmare. Yesterday I said the hell with it and I opened up the column, first I need to tell you – it’s a snap. The column comes apart by one 5/8ths bolt and a column puller (which I suspect I would have avoided with a little muscle, but why bother when I have pullers). Anyway, once you pull the housing off the wires and contacts are right smack in front of you – easy peasy. As for fishing wires – this is just a wrong statement. On the base of the column there is a small shield the wires run through, pull it towards you and then it pop’s out (down) and the wires are all free.
I was finally able to see what was going on, basically the ground on the hazards mechanism is broken. I had another column laying around with plans on having it professionally rebuilt (bearings shot). So I removed the column harness and switches from it and replaced my columns with it .. bingo, problem solved. I’ll try and post a picture - It won't upload pictures, says page can not be displayed. Oh well, nit the best picture anyway.
Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56
My Link
(click for Texas-sized view!) NCRS
"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"
Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56
My Link
(click for Texas-sized view!) NCRS
"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"
Than you Joel – your post really confirms my suspicion of my incorrect installation. Going to be a tough lesson to learn as I remove the trans and bell housing ! Of course my 68 has a non-removable cross member, so I need to remove the shifter and linkage before I can drop the transmission -- yes, pity me please.
But I did start this thread so that anyone searching a 1968 steering column in the future would know how very simple it is to rewire one. Actually I should take the statement a step further – its even more simple to remove and replace the column from the car. But its much easier to re-wire the column when its in the car (by re-wire I mean install new switches and wires – the complete harness is on Ecklers for like $80 – I would not want to rewire old switches, wouldn’t see the point).