Early A Body Steering Column Interchange?

[CrusherCuda]

I have a 1966 Barracuda shell. I need a floor shift steering column. I have a 65 Dart 3 on the tree column, but I hate to cut it up if someone can use it. I found a 63 Dart floor shift coulmn. Will a PRE 64 A-body column bolt into a 64 to 66 A-body? This car does not have to be correct, but I don't want to cobble things up if I don't have to. Thanks. Dan.

 

[memike]

And to add, I would like a list of what steering columns will interchange and still use the wire connection we have in our 66 and earlier columns.
Following this thread

 

[CrusherCuda]

I am also running a 65 Dart aluminum manual steering box.

 

[pishta]

off the top of my head, I'd say yes but the Dart may have a firewall flange at the base of the steering column that the 66 may not have. IDT the electricals changed. @cosgig may know more.

 

[65 Dartman]

I have a 1966 Barracuda shell. I need a floor shift steering column. I have a 65 Dart 3 on the tree column, but I hate to cut it up if someone can use it. I found a 63 Dart floor shift coulmn. Will a PRE 64 A-body column bolt into a 64 to 66 A-body? This car does not have to be correct, but I don't want to cobble things up if I don't have to. Thanks. Dan.

I think the basic 63 Dart column “should” be the same length as the 64-66 columns. The center shaft lengths are of course different between manual and power steering. Turn signal connectors are likely the same.

 

[65 Cuda 340]

The answer to the question is pretty much yes, provided you understand that manual steering shafts and power steering shafts are different lengths (housing is the same) and that the terminals on the turn signal wiring are different 63 to 65 (can't remember if just 63 is different or not). But it's easy enough to swap turn signal wire harness. Or to cut the ends and swap wire terminals. I swapped turn signal harnesses when I swapped columns between my 65 Barracuda and 63 Valiant. (One had a PS column and the other a manual column; I needed to switch which one had which.) Other than the turn signal harness, they just bolted in, from one to the other.

Edit: just remembered you also have to swap the firewall plates as they are not the same.

I'm pretty sure you could also swap shafts from one column housing to the other, if you have PS and need manual or vice versa.

 

[CrusherCuda]

The answer to the question is pretty much yes, provided you understand that manual steering shafts and power steering shafts are different lengths (housing is the same) and that the terminals on the turn signal wiring are different 63 to 65 (can't remember if just 63 is different or not). But it's easy enough to swap turn signal wire harness. Or to cut the ends and swap wire terminals. I swapped turn signal harnesses when I swapped columns between my 65 Barracuda and 63 Valiant. (One had a PS column and the other a manual column; I needed to switch which one had which.) Other than the turn signal harness, they just bolted in, from one to the other.

Edit: just remembered you also have to swap the firewall plates as they are not the same.

I'm pretty sure you could also swap shafts from one column housing to the other, if you have PS and need manual or vice versa.

Thanks for the info. Good to know about the firewall plates. I was going to use the harness out of the 65 Dart. I can make that work. More concerned with bolting it to the dash and firewall and steering shaft. Thanks!

 

[cosgig]

The steering columns are the same, but the firewall plates seem to change every year. 66 has just one plate, 64/65 have 2, one larger plate that bolts to the kick, and one that bolts to the first one and acts to stabilize the tube a bit. If I’m not mistaken, the secondary plate has set screw that tightens it against the tube, it’s about 2” tall. Not sure if I have one to show, the 65 column I have is a 4 speed column, which also has a different secondary plate due to the hole for the clutch rod.

 

[cudamark]

The only thing I can add is that the couplers look different between the '63 (clamp type) and the '66 (roll pin type), but, they will interchange if the same type steering box is used. Floor/firewall plates are definitely different, which in some cases, you need to pull the column apart to swap.

 

[BillGrissom]

Do not cut off the turn signal connector. I can't believe so many gomers do that, then reattach w/ a mass of ugly butt crimps. It is simple to release the pins from the plastic shell, using a little screw-driver. I can compare my 1965 w/ memory of my 1969 Dart. As I recall, they both used the same 8-pin "twin lock" connector, but the 1969 has 2 wires in the turn signal cam. I recall the reason is that the rear bulbs must serve for both brake lamp and turn signal, so they had to route the brake wire thru the turn signal switch. The same connector works in 1965 because they didn't use all the positions in the connector. As stated, you can easily swap turn signal switches, and I think they all have the same mounting holes, lever attachments, and horn ring roller. If picking, don't forget Dodge motorhomes, which continued some of the 1960's connectors into maybe 1990 (using up stocked parts?).

My 1969 column had a collapsible tube (for safety) and a matching telescoping steering shaft which can slide to compress. Google images to see which way the brake pedal goes around the steering column. I say this because I have the pedal assembly from a 1974 Dart and its pedal bends to go around the opposite side of the column as in my 1965. They might have done this because of the thicker collapsible tube. If true, your 1966 brake pedal might not have enough bend to clear a later steering column.

 

[65 Cuda 340]

Do not cut off the turn signal connector. I can't believe so many gomers do that, then reattach w/ a mass of ugly butt crimps. It is simple to release the pins from the plastic shell, using a little screw-driver. I can compare my 1965 w/ memory of my 1969 Dart. As I recall, they both used the same 8-pin "twin lock" connector, but the 1969 has 2 wires in the turn signal cam. I recall the reason is that the rear bulbs must serve for both brake lamp and turn signal, so they had to route the brake wire thru the turn signal switch. The same connector works in 1965 because they didn't use all the positions in the connector. As stated, you can easily swap turn signal switches, and I think they all have the same mounting holes, lever attachments, and horn ring roller. If picking, don't forget Dodge motorhomes, which continued some of the 1960's connectors into maybe 1990 (using up stocked parts?).

My 1969 column had a collapsible tube (for safety) and a matching telescoping steering shaft which can slide to compress. Google images to see which way the brake pedal goes around the steering column. I say this because I have the pedal assembly from a 1974 Dart and its pedal bends to go around the opposite side of the column as in my 1965. They might have done this because of the thicker collapsible tube. If true, your 1966 brake pedal might not have enough bend to clear a later steering column.

Well, I mostly agree, but I can tell you that the plastic housings of the turn signal connector, as well as the wire terminals, are different from 63 to 65. Have no idea about other years. So releasing the pins from the plastic shell (which you have to do to remove the turn signal harness from the column) won't let you switch shells. As for me, as I stated above, I swapped turn signal harnesses when I swapped steering columns.