Modifying Auto on the Column Steering Collars - NO Welding Required!!

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zac_F71 said:
You should probably tag this thread and your original post as "no welding required"

VERY nice write up I will be tacking this in my Demon as I plan to go plastic racing bucket seat and a non-console auto for an "all business" look haha
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Well I looked into changing my original post but I cant edit it. Hopefully people who are considering doing this will see that its no welding required
 
Yes, great write-up and this is huge. I've got a couple automatic columns out in the yard that I think I'll use now. Thanks!
 
lol, not to take anything away from the OP but I'm surprised no one thought of this before. I already did one column last year and, Ironically, I'm in the middle of doing my second today.
 
360Scamp said:
Well guys I was doing some research and I found this write up by xMOPARx doing the same thing with the collars still on the column if you are interested in reading it as well.

http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?t=104306&highlight=Shift+indicator+removal
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That's the exact article that gave me the idea of converting my auto column into a floor shift. The first one I did, my buddy wanted for his duster, so I sold it to him and bought another one to do for my Scamp.


This time around I decided to keep the gear indicator boss and convert it into an information center. I installed a custom gauge cluster with no provisions for high beam indicator, brake warning light, etc. So I modified the plastic insert that had PRNDL on it into three sections and put a plastic overlay over it with a high beam indicator and brake warning light (haven't decided on the third one yet). I then installed LED lights behind each. I'll post pictures of it when it's complete and installed in the car.
 
71Scamper said:
That's the exact article that gave me the idea of converting my auto column into a floor shift. The first one I did, my buddy wanted for his duster, so I sold it to him and bought another one to do for my Scamp.


This time around I decided to keep the gear indicator boss and convert it into an information center. I installed a custom gauge cluster with no provisions for high beam indicator, brake warning light, etc. So I modified the plastic insert that had PRNDL on it into three sections and put a plastic overlay over it with a high beam indicator and brake warning light (haven't decided on the third one yet). I then installed LED lights behind each. I'll post pictures of it when it's complete and installed in the car.
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Man i cant wait to see that, it might be something I will consider an information center
 
71Scamper said:
lol, not to take anything away from the OP but I'm surprised no one thought of this before.
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Well, actually....I HAD thought of it before (of course) but I figured it would be more of a pain in the *** than this. I was thinking I'd have to weld or braze some metal in. This looks fairly easy.....
 
That's really cool! Weldless repair so it means we can all do it. The only thing I would add to this is maybe sacrificing a second auto shifter column for the repair parts. Seeing how I have a spare and it's good only for parts,I think I'll be doing this.
 
This website is fantastic. Great write up. I did mine the same way on the shifter but did not realize that the top could come of too. I just epoxied the hole for shifter shut and did something to the inside (don't remember what).

Thank you!
 
needsaresto said:
That's really cool! Weldless repair so it means we can all do it. The only thing I would add to this is maybe sacrificing a second auto shifter column for the repair parts. Seeing how I have a spare and it's good only for parts,I think I'll be doing this.
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Yea its pretty straigt forward, just take your time. If you cut a little too deep you can always use filler to fix it.
 
Anthony, did you end up getting the bowls off the shaft?I looked at my column and didn't see anything after the bearing retainer to be able to separate it. I think the bearing is just hung up on the shaft.
 
Hey, thanks for the plug lol. Yes i did this conversion to my column on my duster a few years back and posted a how to write up here on the forum.

it came out looking excellent and you could never tell it wasn't factory. looked just as good up until the day I sold the Duster this last summer.
 
yep its a good idea. i have done this in the past as well. in fact i just did this on my 67 cuda column i converted from a 3 on the tree, in the past i took a late model diecast GM tilt column out of a 74 monte carlo i was putting in my 60 el camino, and removed all the ignition stuff from the column, shaved and filled the lock key hole in the column, as i wanted the tilt, but wanted the ignition key left in the dash

On the later A body cars with the ignition switch in the column, i would recommend looking for late 70s to early 80s dodge pickups if your junkyard has any available, the late 70s early 80s model dodge pickups with a floor shift either a 3/4 ton or 1 ton with a top loader, or a 1/2 ton with a 4 speed, the collars are already smoothed, its just a matter of removing them from the truck steering column, sandblasting and repainting them. they fit right on an A body column.

a manual column shift 3 speed pickup column will work too, you just have to fill in the one shifter hole on the lower collar.

i have redone automatic transmission column shifter ones for 67 to 69 model cars with the JB weld too. it works great. i would recommend against using fiberglass filler, and or bondo, unless the bondo is just for smoothing out imperfections over the JB weld filler. by itself the bondo will eventually crack.

i was going to cut down a set of column shifter collars to make a floor shifter column for a 70 up A body to resell, but came across a set of dodge pickup collars off a 79 dodge 1 ton dually with a toploader in the junkyard. it was a matter of sandblast and paint and assemble.

the job you did on yours is really good. i abandoned this method for the column i was redoing due to the shear time and effort to smooth them out. kudos to you on yours tho.

i hope this helps someone out

matt
 
I got my puller made, because I just couldnt get the upper collar off. I got my new bearing as well. So after a long break here is the finished results.
22172647-D9E6-40E5-A0BF-895EE5A4D993_zps4sc2tnsv.jpg


2DAD2B98-6A0D-4EDD-AB53-023E5B6C872E_zpsoozo384k.jpg


Now your car can look like a factory auto on the floor or a four speed.
 
I forgot to add this pic. On the steering lock there is a cover over it and you need to use a small flat blade screwdriver to remove the cover to expose the roll pin and drive the roll pin out to remove it. After that its pretty straight forward.
 
I am so glad I've found this group. The knowledge, creativity and ideas are amazing. Thank you all so much for helping an old dog learn new tricks. 360Scamp great thread!
 
Nice work!

There has got to be someone who can mix up the factory color paint for stuff like that?

I know it has a bumpy type flat finish on it but someone has to do it right?
 
Mad Dart said:
Nice work!

There has got to be someone who can mix up the factory color paint for stuff like that?

I know it has a bumpy type flat finish on it but someone has to do it right?
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Any decent paint shop should have the formulas to do the matte finish paint, the code is on a factory paint chip card IIRC. You could also shoot a matte clear on it if going that route.

I went el-chepo using krylon rust tough semi flat black on mine.

Awesome thread by the OP.
 
crackedback said:
Any decent paint shop should have the formulas to do the matte finish paint, the code is on a factory paint chip card IIRC. You could also shoot a matte clear on it if going that route.

I went el-chepo using krylon rust tough semi flat black on mine.

Awesome thread by the OP.
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I may do this mod soon. Getting bored now that the car is done.

Smitty's in Hemet should be able to handle that task and load it in cans as well.
 
This is a great thread at showing how to recycle and mod something that for years was just thrown away. Im doing mine also.
 
crackedback said:
I went el-chepo using krylon rust tough semi flat black on mine.
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I used krylon "textured" semi flat black, and it came out bitchen! The texture is just enough imho. Jus to add my 2 cents, my column is also modified in the same manner that this thread describes. I cheated though and bought it from another member who did the work.
 
I did this mod today in about 2 hours with the column in the car, only because my dash frame is out of the car.
I cut the shifter knuckle off with the shifter arm still installed.
The ignition lock still works and the wheel spins freely.
Just pulled the wheel and tapped off the turn signal mechanism and the ignition switch.
I am happy with the results.

Steering Column Collars-No Welding 54-1.jpg



Steering Column Collars-No Welding 54-2.jpg
 
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