Expert: Rob Painter - 2/25/2011

Question
hi, can a different steering wheel be used with one of the tilt/telescopic columns? i have the opportunity to buy a column that I would like to put in my custom hot rod, the original wheel looks nice but if i wanted to change it could I? thanks

Answer
Hello,

No, it won't work for a host of reasons! You won't get the horn to work. T&T won't work because you would not have a way to use the mechanism. You would either have a massive gap between the wheel and the column or have the wheel so close to the column, it would start cutting the top.

For 20 years I worked on these columns. I did modifications that were said to be impossible. I once was going to do somewhat the same thing in my 87 Suburban. I was going to build a T&T for the truck and was going to use the popular 90's style 4 spoke wheel. I was going to modify the Cadillac T&T shroud from the steering wheel and had everything figured until I applied it.
Did not work and could not be modified and neither can you as you will find if you attempt.

By the way, just so you are aware--I still rebuild these Saginaw steering columns. They are notorious for getting loose because the 4 bolts inside come loose. No matter how good a mechanic is, he falls apart trying to fix one of these! It's a specialty and I have rebuilt thousands and thousands from theft or because they became loose.

These columns are defeated in 30 seconds with a screwdriver (car is stolen in 30 seconds) on the left side of the column with no damage to the other side where the ignition lock is located.

Any question you have on the T&T write me at robo14@aol.com

I can tell you cross reference not by part number but from real life experience. Internally, the same as a regular tilt until the longer upper cover is installed.

Column was used from 1969 to 1989 on cars, tilt was the same until 1999 on most makes and models. 1990 air bag came out restricting the use of a T&T. The first year the dimmer switch was in the column was 1978. I don't remember the exact date, but I believe 1982 was the first year the wiper switch was in the steering column. 1978 up T.Signal switches were all the same for tilt, but most T&Ts had an additional connection for cornering lights.

If you have any questions on the columns, feel free to write.

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