Steering Column Update

[@primozkrajcar4144]

Happy birthday! 🥳🥳🥳

[@everettdean1215]

Happy Birthday🎉

[@tyronemorina4306]

Happy belated birthday 🎂 may God continue to smile on you. 🙏🏾nosale

[@thedrivewayC3]

@@tyronemorina4306 Thank you my friend

[@janthom91]

That lever on the end of the steering column is there because of the steering column lock that became mandatory in 1969. GM was afraid that someone could manage to turn off the engine and lock the steering column while driving. With that system it should only be possible to lock the column in R (manual) or P (Automatic) and that is usually idiot proof enough that the average consumer wouldn`t hurt themselves. Another way to deactivate that system is to use a steering column from a newer C3 (after 1976?). Those have a small lever on the column behind the key cylinder that needs to be held down to lock the column and remove the key. I believe it is possible to lock the column while the car is moving with that system but I have never tried it myself. But it will prevent you or a heavy key chain from accidentally locking the steering column. That system is much better that the earlier system in my opinion. I believe it is hard to keep the older system when changing to a more modern gear box. Maybe it is possible to keep it with an automatic, but I think it would be hard to keep it functional if you change to a proper gear box like a Tremec TKX or Magnum. And happy birthday to you. Working on your car is quite the way to celebrate.

[@thedrivewayC3]

@@janthom91 Thanks for the info. I did learn that the steering on my car will lock with the key in, if turned to the ACC position (if you shut off the engine to coast.) You can coast, but the key has to be in the Run position, not ACC. I may upgrade later to a 5 or 6-speed when I drop in the 406 sbc I’m building for when the oem motor dies. Its days are numbered..

[@mr.keepitreal2200]

Happy Birthday! Please post a picture of the special bracket(installed) that allows you to remove the key?

[@thedrivewayC3]

@@mr.keepitreal2200 Will do