Steering column, going from Column to Floor shift

[tobyp]

I have a service manual and the procedure to change the shifter bowl to a normal non shift bowl looks a little intimidating. Are there any of those out there which have attempted to changing this bowl and what to look out for when doing so?

 

[LS1GN]

Not sure what you mean by 'bowl". The bowl which holds the actual shifter on the column? Yes, it is a pain so I just took the shift lever off.

Yes, it is redneck. No, most people don't notice.

 

[tobyp]

Not sure what you mean by 'bowl". The bowl which holds the actual shifter on the column? Yes, it is a pain so I just took the shift lever off.

Yes, it is redneck. No, most people don't notice.

THat is funny!!

I am going to attempt, what the hell. I have a new bowl that is "shifter delete" I would like to make it look at close to console car as possible. Ill post some pics in a thread i was asking about the whole swap. It turned out VERY nice.

 

[LS1GN]

I figured I'd leave it in "low" so it would be out of the way, then I couldn't get the key out! :shock:

There was a guy on the El Camino forums who grinded the bungs off the bowl and filled it with some JB Weld, sanded it down and painted it. Turned out really nice. Is the bowl you got aftermarket?

 

[tobyp]

I figured I'd leave it in "low" so it would be out of the way, then I couldn't get the key out! :shock:

There was a guy on the El Camino forums who grinded the bungs off the bowl and filled it with some JB Weld, sanded it down and painted it. Turned out really nice. Is the bowl you got aftermarket?

I thought about that too, worse case scenario. No, the bowl is a NOS GM piece.

 

[Mike P]

One of the pains is getting the wiring in and out of the column. Just take it slow and don’t force anything. I really suggest you pick a day when you have nothing else to do or places to be so you don’t feel rushed doing it (especially if it’s your only car). It might go very smooth, but then again you could run into some of those aggravating little problems that often crop up.

I’m one of those guys that cuts the nubs off and fills and paints them. I started out doing it 20 years ago on 50s cars that we were converting to floor shifts when we wanted to keep the original column (there were no smooth shift collars available back then). For me it’s a lot easier (and of course cheaper) especially on a tilt column. Properly done no one can tell the difference.

 

[tobyp]

One of the pains is getting the wiring in and out of the column. Just take it slow and don’t force anything. I really suggest you pick a day when you have nothing else to do or places to be so you don’t feel rushed doing it (especially if it’s your only car). It might go very smooth, but then again you could run into some of those aggravating little problems that often crop up.

I’m one of those guys that cuts the nubs off and fills and paints them. I started out doing it 20 years ago on 50s cars that we were converting to floor shifts when we wanted to keep the original column (there were no smooth shift collars available back then). For me it’s a lot easier (and of course cheaper) especially on a tilt column. Properly done no one can tell the difference.

I am following you and leaning that way as well. Can you post a couple pics. I would like to see your work.

 

[axisg]

I did this once to many many years ago and figured the quicker/easier thing to do is grab a whole column from a floor shift car and swap it out.

 

[MrLightning]

http://louisville.craigslist.org/pts/2959961217.html


http://houston.craigslist.org/ptd/2935196407.html


http://www.ebay.com/itm/82-87-Oldsmobil ... 35bb63c004

 

[Mike P]

“......I am following you and leaning that way as well. Can you post a couple pics. I would like to see your work.....”


Here you go:

I did this one with the column out, but have also done several in car. Just lay some sheets out when you cut off the nub and do the sanding. I usually just pick up a small can of touchup up paint to paint it.