2nd Gen Camaro Column Swap- Help!

[barno68]

I picked up a tilt column out of a '79 TA and am in the process of rebuilding it. I noticed that the column out of my '71 had a different end on the shaft where it connects to the intermediate shaft. My plan was to swap the bottom halves of the column shafts, seemed simple enough... turns out they are different lengths.

How have folks done this in the past? I suppose I could just go and get the intermediate shaft out of a 79-81 Camaro, but I have already rebuilt the rag joint and installed in on the sub-frame. Besides, it is all pretty now :twothumbs

Any suggestions?

[MrQuick]

Is the pretty one shorter or longer? One might be compressed.

I did a swap from a 79 to 71 Camaro before. Can't remember what shaft I used but I don't remeber if there was an issue.

Maybe Poncho's are different??

[barno68]

Is the pretty one shorter or longer? One might be compressed.

I did a swap from a 79 to 71 Camaro before. Can't remember what shaft I used but I don't remeber if there was an issue.

Maybe Poncho's are different??

I do not have the intermediate shaft from the '79, so can not compare them. They should be the same length as the column sticks out the same from the firewall. I believe the only difference will be in the coupler type. The '71 is splined, the '79-81's are an oval with a hole drilled through. I think the shaft length difference is due to the tilt, but I figured the lower shaft would have been the same.

All my parts arrived today, so at this point I am planning on putting it back together. I need to hit the salvage yard tomorrow and try and find a decent drivers door glass, so I can pull the intermediate shaft at the same time.

[MrQuick]

oh ok...probably would have helped if I had looked at your pictures.