Square Body Steering column Swap

[Utah Smitty]

Along with replacing the seat on my 1988 R3500 1 ton Square Body, I want to upgrade the steering column from straight, floor shift to a tilt with column shift.

My immediate need is to be able to get into the truck and drive without my gut rubbing the steering wheel. The second need is to have a column shifter for when I swap in a Turbo Diesel and automatic transmission.

I've looked everywhere for a square body tilt column with shifter. For the pickups it's 1983-87. For the Suburbans and full size Blazers it's 83-91. In spite of that what I've found are either junk, or in excess of $1,000 for a rebuilt model.

I see columns for the 88-94 OBS in the $300s. I know the mounting plate is different, but is it possible to get an OBS Column, remove the 4 bolt mounting plate, and use the slip on plate and clamp from the current column?? My column has the Double D shaft. Are the columns the same length? Are the connectors the same?? How feasible is this?

Thanks,

Smitty

 

[MrMarty51]

IDK none if that infromashun.

 

[MrMarty51]

Along with replacing the seat on my 1988 R3500 1 ton Square Body, I want to upgrade the steering column from straight, floor shift to a tilt with column shift.

My immediate need is to be able to get into the truck and drive without my gut rubbing the steering wheel. The second need is to have a column shifter for when I swap in a Turbo Diesel and automatic transmission.

I've looked everywhere for a square body tilt column with shifter. For the pickups it's 1983-87. For the Suburbans and full size Blazers it's 83-91. In spite of that what I've found are either junk, or in excess of $1,000 for a rebuilt model.

I see columns for the 88-94 OBS in the $300s. I know the mounting plate is different, but is it possible to get an OBS Column, remove the 4 bolt mounting plate, and use the slip on plate and clamp from the current column?? My column has the Double D shaft. Are the columns the same length? Are the connectors the same?? How feasible is this?

Thanks,

Smitty

Have to probably go to a pick and pull yard, maybe they have some columns already removed that You could do a comparison with.
I do know that with some cut off wheels in a right angle grinder and a welder of sorts most anything is possible.
Please inform us of what actions You take, especially this conversion with details, in case someone else needs to go through the same circumstances.
On another note, it also might require some wire terminal connector change over to get the washer/wiper and signals all functional, if those switches from the original column dont fit the newer column and the harness connectors are different.

 

[dbrannon79]

I did a quick search on the Bay of Fleas (eBay) and found a few in the range of 250-350 pre-owned. also found one new aftermarket for $200.

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[Utah Smitty]

GM 1\2 and 3\4 ton trucks changed to the Old Body Style (OBS) in 1988. Suburbans, Blazers and 1 tons didn't change until a few years later and don't use the same steering column. My truck is a 1988 R3500 1 ton.

The steering wheel and upper column are the same, but the 88 to 94 have a welded on plate that mounts with 4 bolt holes, whereas the square body mounts via a clamp on the steering column on the engine side of the firewall. It has a removable 5 bolt cover plate that is a different shape. I have also read that the 88-94 column is longer.

Also, the pre 1984 square body trucks didn't have the wiper controls and cruise on the turn signal stem, which is true of all the aftermarket steering columns.

I'm in my 70s and weigh over 300 lbs-I can't get under the dash to trace and splice a bunch of wires nor mount a wiper switch.

I also need a tilt column because the factory wheel is close to the seat and doesn't leave a lot of clearance for me to get in and out, let alone drive.

Lastly, I plan to install a 6.2\6.5 diesel with an automatic and would like column shift.

My eBay search only found 4 used columns with tilt, all of which has been ridden hard and put away wet. Prices ranged from $300-$550. One was s core, and one looked like it had been in a fire.

There were a lot of 88-94 columns, but unless I can find a way to easily modify one they won't work.

Local wrecking yards in northern Utah didn't have anything. Local classifieds showed several that were listed for square bodies but were actually for the 88-94 trucks.

So, my only options are to find an 84 or newer square body tilt column in decent shape, hopefully with a shifter or modify an 88-94 column if that can be easily done.

 

[dbrannon79]

So the 86-87 square body won't work? for the turn signal that has built in wiper function, you should be able to just swap out with your existing switch in the column.

If I understood your last post correctly, your style column uses a clamp on lower mount on the engine side of the firewall. not sure if this hold true for the older square bodies, but on the OBS (88-94) columns, the tilt portion of the column can be separated from the lower (under dash) section and installed on a "non tilt" column. the tilt is simply a pivot point, swapping columns won't give you any extra clearance but only move the wheel at an upward angle. you might also want to look at ways to slide the lower section into the firewall. 2 inches makes a lot if difference.

The upper cradle that holds the column at the front of the dash is fixed and cannot move, but you can possibly improvise with some flat bar bolted to the dash mount where the cradle is bolted 1-2" further forward along with sliding the firewall mount the same. then if needed, have the shifter linkage extended to reach. other than this, maybe look at some of the older cady columns that had the telescopic option. your factory wheel should bolt right up to it and those columns I believe also had the multi-function turn sig/wiper switch too.

 

[Will L.]

Swapping the engine, transmission, harness differences, going to have to add a second fuel line it goes to the bottom of the fuel tank for the return line, change the sleep, change the steering column.

Are you sure isn’t gonna be better just to sell this truck and buy a different one?
Might be better to buy the other truck first take off the regular pick up bed off of that one ton that you buy, install your flatbed, put the other bed onto the gasoline truck and just sell it.

 

[dbrannon79]

I would suggest looking for a good donor parts truck, but there is a big problem with that for me!! I brought one home not needing another truck but was given the opportunity. within about a month I had the donor running and driving. fell in love with it and to this day still drive it LOL funny thing is all the money and work I have put into my first truck, I really haven't put a whole lot into what was going to be a donor truck other than maybe some sweat and it drives so much better than the first!

See that's the problem with truck guys... you become too attached and can't part something out that works perfectly or even better than what you already had! I've already been told that if I bring another home, she's gonna need to borrow a hammer and life collect on insurance HAHA

 

[MrMarty51]

I would suggest looking for a good donor parts truck, but there is a big problem with that for me!! I brought one home not needing another truck but was given the opportunity. within about a month I had the donor running and driving. fell in love with it and to this day still drive it LOL funny thing is all the money and work I have put into my first truck, I really haven't put a whole lot into what was going to be a donor truck other than maybe some sweat and it drives so much better than the first!

See that's the problem with truck guys... you become too attached and can't part something out that works perfectly or even better than what you already had! I've already been told that if I bring another home, she's gonna need to borrow a hammer and life collect on insurance HAHA

Just wait and see what the wifey does when I pull into the yard with this thingabobbinder.

 

[Utah Smitty]

So the 86-87 square body won't work? for the turn signal that has built in wiper function, you should be able to just swap out with your existing switch in the column.

If I understood your last post correctly, your style column uses a clamp on lower mount on the engine side of the firewall. not sure if this hold true for the older square bodies, but on the OBS (88-94) columns, the tilt portion of the column can be separated from the lower (under dash) section and installed on a "non tilt" column. the tilt is simply a pivot point, swapping columns won't give you any extra clearance but only move the wheel at an upward angle. you might also want to look at ways to slide the lower section into the firewall. 2 inches makes a lot if difference.

The upper cradle that holds the column at the front of the dash is fixed and cannot move, but you can possibly improvise with some flat bar bolted to the dash mount where the cradle is bolted 1-2" further forward along with sliding the firewall mount the same. then if needed, have the shifter linkage extended to reach. other than this, maybe look at some of the older cady columns that had the telescopic option. your factory wheel should bolt right up to it and those columns I believe also had the multi-function turn sig/wiper switch too.

Thanks for your information.

The 84-87 square body is the only ones that will work and bolt in. My truck is essentially a square body but a 1988 model 1 ton. All the ones I saw on eBay from the previous post are non-tilt.

I'll look into swapping an upper tilt column into it.

The other thought I had was if I could grind off the flange mount on an 88-94 and then slip the square body plate on, and clamp it to the firewall. The columns appear to be identical in diameter, etc. I haven't checked the wiring harness, I hope to find a wiring harness diagram and see if the connections are the same.

Regards,

Smitty

 

[Utah Smitty]

Swapping the engine, transmission, harness differences, going to have to add a second fuel line it goes to the bottom of the fuel tank for the return line, change the sleep, change the steering column.

Are you sure isn’t gonna be better just to sell this truck and buy a different one?
Might be better to buy the other truck first take off the regular pick up bed off of that one ton that you buy, install your flatbed, put the other bed onto the gasoline truck and just sell it.

I need a truck to mount my 12 foot dump body on... they're pretty hard to find. I also I want the oomph of a diesel... I have a 6.5 TD in my 96 K2500-- with some bolt on mods it's making about 30 hp more than stock and gets 18 mpg on the road. The 6.2/6.5s are bolt on to other GM transmission and motor mounts, though the radiator and some other things have to be changed.

Regards,

Smitty

 

[MrMarty51]

Runs real good.
Renault turbo charged six cylinder diesel with air compressor.

 

[jrsavoie]

I need a truck to mount my 12 foot dump body on... they're pretty hard to find. I also I want the oomph of a diesel... I have a 6.5 TD in my 96 K2500-- with some bolt on mods it's making about 30 hp more than stock and gets 18 mpg on the road. The 6.2/6.5s are bolt on to other GM transmission and motor mounts, though the radiator and some other things have to be changed.

Regards,

Smitty

My old 1991 International 4700 is probably to far and probably needs too much work to consider.
The best I can say is, it was running when parked

 

[Utah Smitty]

View attachment 96758
Runs real good.
Renault turbo charged six cylinder diesel with air compressor.

Thanks, but my dump bed is made for 3500 or 4500 series trucks. This is too much truck for me. The truck I have is long enough for a 12' bed, that's why I'm trying to upgrade it to make it easier for me to drive.