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Help. GM column

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by 416Ford, Jan 31, 2012.

  1. 416Ford
    Joined: Mar 28, 2007
    Posts: 825

    416Ford
    Member

    I have a mid 70's tilt column floor shift in my ride that needs new bearings. Stopped at the classic car auto parts store and a hot rod shop and both said I am not going to find new bearings.
    Mine is junk and I must replace bearing or find another column. Any help or suggestions on finding them?
     
  2. I'm thinking I'd check an industrial bearing supply place. If it's just a plain vanilla roller or ball bearing, you would only need to match up the inside and outside diameters. I'd be greatly surprised if the same bearing is not used in some industrial application on some sort of machinery. Most hardware stores also carry an assortment of common size bearings.
     
  3. brad chevy
    Joined: Nov 22, 2009
    Posts: 2,627

    brad chevy
    Member

    Take the bearings out,go to N.A.P.A. and match them up to new bearings.
     
  4. 34toddster
    Joined: Mar 28, 2006
    Posts: 1,482

    34toddster
    Member
    from Missouri

    I call BS I found some from LMC for my 70 chevy truck column. I bet someone has them.
     
  5. Are you talking about the 2 bearings in the tilt housing? If so, they likely aren't serviced seperately any longer by GM, but they also used to be included as part of a "bearing kit" that also had the rack and sector gear for the ignition lock cylinder and a few other bits.

    It was GM #7844651 but I'm not at work now and don't know if it's still serviced or not. Any GM dealer should be able to tell you if it's still available and check that it's correct for your application.

    Also, NAPA or someone else may be able to cross the GM number.
     
  6. 416Ford
    Joined: Mar 28, 2007
    Posts: 825

    416Ford
    Member

    First bearing in. The one mounted below the spring and C clip. The one at the bottom of the column is very dry and the one at the top is in pieces.

    34Toddster, if you are calling BS tell me where to get it from. The parts store I went to had 30's brake shoes hanging on the wall, a 67 GTO NOS fan sitting on the shelf and at least 30 parts catalogs dating back to beyond my youth.
    They could have missed it but they usually find all the hard to find parts.

    I will try the bearing place that our company deals with tomorrow and see if I can get a retro fit bearing.
     
  7. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 57,500

    squirrel
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    kinda funny what the guys who apparently never took apart a GM tilt column suggest...

    Is it this style? or does it have the threaded shaft? They can come apart when you release the lock plate. I have a bunch of the balls too, they're laying in the bottom of my box of GM tilt column parts. You kinda need to look everything over and see if the parts are missing or damaged, or just disassembled.
     

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  8. 1951Streamliner
    Joined: May 15, 2011
    Posts: 1,877

    1951Streamliner
    Member
    from Reno, NV

    A good solution would be to get the better looking stock column :)
     
  9. 416Ford
    Joined: Mar 28, 2007
    Posts: 825

    416Ford
    Member

    That looks like the one Squirrel.
    I don't have a box of bearings thou.

    I did go threw all the other parts and everything is nice. The star screws were loose when I got the column so I thing they drove it that way for awhile.


    The Mid 80's boxy columns were not cheap enough when I started this build. :)
     
  10. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 57,500

    squirrel
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    If you need any of the parts I have for the column, send me a PM and I'll mail them to you.
     
  11. dirt t
    Joined: Mar 20, 2007
    Posts: 5,336

    dirt t
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    1. HAMB Old Farts' Club

    I used to buy them from GM.
     
  12. GM #7844651 shows possibly in stock at BERGER CHEVROLET, INC. and TODD WENZEL BUICK PONTIAC GMC in your neck of the woods. Berger also shows having GM #7844650 which might also include the bearings you need, or #26001827 which might be just the bearing. At least this way you could look at the actual parts instead of ordering blindly. :D

    Happy hunting! :rolleyes:
     
    Last edited: Feb 1, 2012
  13. ....Not trying to hijack this thread, but just wanted to say, Squirrel, you are what the HAMB is all about.:).....Don
     
  14. 416Ford
    Joined: Mar 28, 2007
    Posts: 825

    416Ford
    Member

    Squirrel, these are pictures of what I have.
    Missing 4 ball bearings from the outer bearing not sure what else.
    I usually only take the columns down to tighten up the three star bolt and reassemble.
    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]

    And thanks for the offer, I may take you up on it.
     
  15. 416Ford
    Joined: Mar 28, 2007
    Posts: 825

    416Ford
    Member

    Thanks ClayMart, I will try and swing by Berger tomorrow with the column and see what they have.
     
  16. I am sorry I can't tell you where I saw it but I do remember seeing those in one of the catalogs I have had in the past.May have been one of the Camaro catalogs.Hopefully the lead from ClayMart pans out but if not, try one of the GM repro parts dealers, maybe Camaro or Vette or truck supplier.
     
  17. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 57,500

    squirrel
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    If you pm me your address, I can put the bearing parts in my picture, and enough of the balls to fill up all the holes in the cage, in an envelope and mail them to you.

    Or you could just evenly space the missing ball holes around the bearing and put it all back together. You just add some grease to the cage, and put the balls in. Be sure to look carefully in the lower part of the column for the missing ones first?
     
  18. mgtstumpy
    Joined: Jul 20, 2006
    Posts: 9,228

    mgtstumpy
    Member

  19. Igosplut
    Joined: Jan 1, 2011
    Posts: 158

    Igosplut

    Sent ya a PM, I have a bunch of that stuff.....
     
  20. gmpartsgod
    Joined: Jan 22, 2012
    Posts: 51

    gmpartsgod
    Member

    Upper bearing part # is 5693941 for 69-75 gm.part is discount from gm.but just ran it on gm locator...kmb warehouse in new york is showing 2 in stock....tel # is 718-892-1186. Hope the helps....got all the parts catalogs back to late 30s..
     
  21. I have one of those out and I'd bet the lower one is identical to every other one of those columns they made. The upper one is probably tilt only, but the balls inside may be shared with the regular one. The columns change some in '78.

    Now the floor shift tilt is not cheap - I've seen the Camaro one go for as much as $300 - but the standard column is still dirt common.
     
  22. 416Ford
    Joined: Mar 28, 2007
    Posts: 825

    416Ford
    Member

    Squirrel, thanks again for the offer to help. You have been a great help to me in the past just by your post in other topics.
    I have taken Igosplut up on the extra parts since he had extra parts from the columns he repaired.

    And thanks for the part number from the GM guys and letting me know who has them in stock.

    I am sure this thread will help others out also. Since most of us have more then one old car we work on and there not all HAMB friendly.

    If all this help does not get the job done I will dig this thread back up.
    Thanks, Dave
     
  23. swe64
    Joined: Nov 22, 2010
    Posts: 415

    swe64
    Member

    hello i have a 1963 pontiac catalina with tilt function and tried to fix bearings but i can not take it apart i dont vant to brake anything is there a special tool?
    ken sweden
     
  24. 416Ford
    Joined: Mar 28, 2007
    Posts: 825

    416Ford
    Member

    How far apart are you taking it?
     
  25. swe64
    Joined: Nov 22, 2010
    Posts: 415

    swe64
    Member

    hello i can take it apart today and send pictures is there any bolts from underside? could not get this bottom of.
    1963 pontiac catalina no colum shift and tilt.
    ken sweden
     

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  26. swe64
    Joined: Nov 22, 2010
    Posts: 415

    swe64
    Member

    here is photo, someone before me had bondoed lower part of collum thas why i did not get this part of .
    top bearing is off but i think is next bearing.side (plugs)is out but here is where i dont have a clue.
    ken
     

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  27. swe64
    Joined: Nov 22, 2010
    Posts: 415

    swe64
    Member

    the top bearing is not balls it is (rolls)rullar on sweden language.
    ken
     
  28. 416Ford
    Joined: Mar 28, 2007
    Posts: 825

    416Ford
    Member

    Looks similar to mine but not. Do you have a bearing below that you are trying to get out? The GM columns I am familiar with only have the tilt ball below that point.

    Wish I could help more Ken but I am not familiar with these columns.
     
  29. swe64
    Joined: Nov 22, 2010
    Posts: 415

    swe64
    Member

    ok i looked in shop manual i try follow instruktions and hope for the best,
    i remembered that i did buy this book tis summer. if i need bearings is there a list nr you have avaible.
    thanks
    ken
     
  30. 416Ford
    Joined: Mar 28, 2007
    Posts: 825

    416Ford
    Member

    I do not, but hopefully one of the GM parts guys will chime in again with the part numbers you are looking for.
     

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