tdaaj Posted October 21, 2008 Report Share Posted October 21, 2008 (edited) for you bigger guys that need a little more clearence in the cab, this might be helpful. the 620 steering column is 2" shorter than the 521 column and bolts right in. no more having to cut things. this was shown and told to me by a fellow that had gotten a 521 to me. looked like everything had bolted up just like he told me. Edited October 21, 2008 by tdaaj Quote Link to comment
brysjclue Posted October 21, 2008 Report Share Posted October 21, 2008 for you bigger guys that need a little more clearence in the cab, this might be helpful. the 620 steering column is 2" shorter than the 521 column and bolts right in. no more having to cut things. good to know, will this help trying to mount a grant, sparco, momo ect... steering wheel... Quote Link to comment
ppeters914 Posted October 21, 2008 Report Share Posted October 21, 2008 Wow, that is cool. And the steering wheel isn't blocking the dash any? Did the 620's come with autos 'cuz if they did, then you could have a column shift on a manual-to-auto conversion. Quote Link to comment
Cuts metal like mad Posted October 21, 2008 Report Share Posted October 21, 2008 if you use the 78-79 column yes... Does the 521 turnsignal switch bolt on too? What about the column cover?? Quote Link to comment
tdaaj Posted October 21, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2008 everything bolts on, column came out of a 77 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted October 21, 2008 Report Share Posted October 21, 2008 Wow, that is cool. And the steering wheel isn't blocking the dash any? Did the 620's come with autos 'cuz if they did, then you could have a column shift on a manual-to-auto conversion. Sounds interesting. The 620 were floor shift automatics. Quote Link to comment
ppeters914 Posted October 21, 2008 Report Share Posted October 21, 2008 Sounds interesting. The 620 were floor shift automatics. Oh......DOH! :blink: Quote Link to comment
Cuts metal like mad Posted October 21, 2008 Report Share Posted October 21, 2008 very VERY good to hear. This is perfect timing Ted, I was considering a 78-79 steering column already just to get the Z-car spline (easier to get aftermarket steering wheel adapters). Quote Link to comment
slodat Posted October 21, 2008 Report Share Posted October 21, 2008 How do you remove the column from a 521/620? I had thought it was quite the endeavor. Quote Link to comment
tdaaj Posted October 21, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2008 (edited) it is but not too bad. unbolt the column/steering box from the frame, unbolt from the dash, remover steering wheel,turn signal switch, and cover. remove the radiator and grill. pull it out the core support. oh and remove pitman arm from box Edited October 21, 2008 by tdaaj Quote Link to comment
slodat Posted October 21, 2008 Report Share Posted October 21, 2008 Ahhh.. So the column and box come out together. Got it! Quote Link to comment
dqami Posted October 21, 2008 Report Share Posted October 21, 2008 So 74-79 column for sure will work or just certain years? Need to know so I can go jy hunting. Quote Link to comment
pope_face Posted October 21, 2008 Report Share Posted October 21, 2008 Nice, perfect timing on this as well for me. I was considering moving my whole steering box forward to get more clearance... Any idea if it's possible to swap just the column, or does the entire box have to go? Now to try to find a '77 steering column up here... Anyone in Washington have one they'd like to sell me? :D Quote Link to comment
Madmax Posted October 21, 2008 Report Share Posted October 21, 2008 nice thread...this is what i love, building it with your head, not your wallet... Quote Link to comment
]2eDeYe Posted October 21, 2008 Report Share Posted October 21, 2008 Now I know what to do with my extra columns when my build is finished...and here I thought they'd be tossed :D Quote Link to comment
pope_face Posted October 22, 2008 Report Share Posted October 22, 2008 Redeye: Care to sell me one of those columns? :D I can't find them up on this side of the border... Quote Link to comment
]2eDeYe Posted October 25, 2008 Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 (edited) So I dug it out for ya pope_face. Figure I'd post up the measurements here for everybody. This is a 78 column, just as I pulled it from the truck. It's should be easy to take out if the radiator isn't in the way. Of course I didn't have a motor in there either. Anyways on to the pics :P and just so ya know theres a little hole near the splines... Leaks like a bitch when you lay it on the floor :lol: Edited October 25, 2008 by ]2eDeYe First pic is blurry cause the cameras on macro...may take another one later... Quote Link to comment
pope_face Posted October 25, 2008 Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 Redeye: Thanks for the pics, they look great. The hole is for the turn-signal/highbeam/horn mount... There's a little bolt that goes into the hole to prevent the stalk from rotating up and down when you use the signals. Quote Link to comment
mklotz70 Posted October 25, 2008 Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 The 620's went to metric.....so that may be a hang up with putting just the shaft/column in the 521 box....not sure. When removing the box/column....if you take the seat out, you can angle the box up over the core support and not have to remove the radiator. Much nicer to remove 4 bolts and slide the seat over a bit than to drain/remove the radiator. :) Quote Link to comment
tdaaj Posted October 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 yeah the guy that did it replaced the unit, box and column. Quote Link to comment
pope_face Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 Ted: Are you sure that the 620 column is actually 2" shorter than the 521? I measured the column in the '72 I've got, and it's about 48 3/4" from the back of the mounting plate to the end of the part where the wheel mounts. Going by the pics Steve posted, it looks like the the 620 column is 47 3/4" from the same points. Is it that the steering box is slightly shorter as well, or mounts slightly further forward? I'd love to be able to swap the columns if it works, but it might not be worth the trouble for 1" or less of a difference. Quote Link to comment
tdaaj Posted October 30, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 i'm i was going off of what i was told, and what i saw. the 2" might not be exact but it did seem like a big difference. Quote Link to comment
pope_face Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 Ok, thanks. You didn't happen to compare it to a stock 521, did you? I've got my Recaro ready to install in my truck, and I'm just a couple inches off from being able to fit my Nardi wheel rather than the stock one. Quote Link to comment
]2eDeYe Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 You trying to get outta buying that column :lol: :D Quote Link to comment
pope_face Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 Haha, not really... I'm just trying to make sure I need it before I make a 5 hour trek to get it... :rolleyes: Quote Link to comment
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