1979 Tilt/Telescopic question

[vettegirl]

A friend just called with a question about his '79. Hubby's not home, so I thought I would ask you guys...

His tilt/telescopic column is loose. He has disassembled it to where he can see the four screws that need to be tightened, but there is a spring in the way and he can't get to them. Can you point him in the right direction?

Thanks so much!!
Lauren

 

[GaryS]

Lauren, first, send your friend to www.corvettefaq.com. Have him check out the site for steering information and download the repair advice on tilt/tele steering that was posted by Jim Shea. Jim is a retired engineer from the company that built our steering columns. He has posted several pages on this. I used Jim's advice to tighten up my T/T steering. If the problem is the big spring, it should have a fairly large slot in it. This slot is for a screwdriver blade. You merely insert the screwdriver and press in. It takes quite a bit of pressure but you push it in and rotate it 90 degrees. PLEASE BE CAREFUL HERE! Once you have rotated it, SLOWLY release the tension on the spring. DO NOT allow it to snap out. Once the spring is out, then you should be your way. Be sure and visit the website I mentioned and download and READ all of the stuff there before you start to work.
Gary

 

[vettegirl]

Wow!!

What an informative website - thanks for the link! I am printing out several technical papers as we speak. This site should really come in handy for my husband, who is doing a frame-off on his '71, and for the nit-picky little problems that arise with my '96 from time to time.

Thanks again!!!
Lauren