Steering Column Swap

[sonnydgt]

Hi Sonny here, Just aquired a 78 Century wagon and would like to put in a tilt column but don't have a clue as to what will fit. Ther are no 70s wagons around my area in Fl. in the junk yards and I haven't been able to find out anything about interchangable parts. I want to keep my original steering wheel for sure. I am a Mercury guy and Buick is all new to me. Any help for the new guy.

Sonny
Midleburg Fl.
66 Mercury Cyclone GT Ragtop 390 5 Speed
66 Mercury M100 5.0 AOD Power everything.
77 Cougar Villager Brougham Wagon Bone Stock
78 Buick Century Sport Wagon 305 ( work In progress)

 

[anthonychacon80]

pretty much any tilt column from any G body with the 3 speed transmission will work. I think the Century wagon was the shorter front end style like the Malibu/LeMans/GrandAM right? those should be exact swaps. The other longer front ends like Cutlass Monte/Grand Prix SHOULD work too, but I am not sure. There is really nothing to swapping. As long as you are swapping a column from another column shift car. Just remember that anything after 81 will have different connectors because the wiper controls were moved to the wand. Basically, look for a 78-80 column on any A/G body

 

[Longroof79]

Sonny,
First off, welcome to the site.
Anthony pretty much nailed it. One thing I'd like to add, however, is that the '78 column would have a splined shaft, and '79 up would have a double flat ended shaft (or double D). In that case, you would also need the intermediate shaft from the donor car. To reiterate what Anthony said, the columns later than '81(I believe), would have the stalk mounted wiper switch, as opposed to the earlier years which had the wiper switch on the dash. Otherwise the columns will physically fit your car.
Post picks of your wagon.

 

[anthonychacon80]

But he would not need to worry about the two shafts if he just took the WHOLE kit-n-kaboodle.

Undo the spline at the steering box, then the three or four firewall screws from inside the cabin. Then the two bolts that holt the column UP to the dash. Undo the wire harness and BOOM. you got it. Pull it out from the inside of the cabin. You don't even need to remove the old steering wheel. Takes about 15 minutes.

 

[Longroof79]

Anthony,
You're absolutely right. If you're pulling it from a donor, pull out the whole works in one shot. Much easier than having to fiddle around with removing the column from the shaft.

I just installed the Jeep Cherokee intermediate shaft. I should have done it years ago. What an improvement over the sloppy rag joint shaft.
I also have a later ('85-86) tilt column from a Monte SS. I converted the dash mounted switch to the column. It did require using a later (delay) wiper motor, and needing a pigtail/ plug from a donor car. The switch has to be compatible with the wiper motor. Although, I did use the later tilt column with the dash mounted switch for quite a while till I converted it over.

Special thanks to Bonnewagon (Mark). He was very instrumental between providing wiring schematics and doing much of the research.

 

[sonnydgt]

Great info guys, now all I need to do is find the right one. Anyone got one for sale, need a tan one!!!!

 

[Blake442]

'82 was the first year for the column-mounted wiper switch, so if you're looking for the easiest route, '78-'81 are your options.

 

[Longroof79]

Sonny,
Color shouldn't be an issue as long as you find a column that will suit your purpose. You can always go to a good body shop supply and pick up a spray can of SEM interior paint that matches your interior color, and go for it.
I find that good tilt columns in the boneyard go fast...but be selective.
I ended up buying mine online. I couldn't find anything good locally. They're either gone...or trashed.