[Terry M. Hunt]

This sleeve is basically about a four or five inch long tube(like a section of hose) that slips over the firewall end of the steering column where it passes through the firewall. At that point it fits into the big round hole on the metal plate that attaches the column to the lower section of the firewall on the interior side. It’s common on many many GM cars. Has anybody found a reproduction of this sleeve available or something else you have repurposed to this use?

[60sstuff]

This rubber sleeve (about 2 1/2” in diameter) that fits over the steering column as a seal as it passes through the firewall?

Chris.

[Terry M. Hunt]

Chris, that is correct. Thanks for posting the picture,. Any ideas on where to get this?

[OG68]

The sleeve is split down the middle to wrap the column and is made from plastic. I used plastic epoxy to hold it together.

haven't seen them reproduced anywhere either

[lust4speed]

One of my 67's has the plastic sleeve and the other two have a rather thin covering close to black fibrous paper. Nothing more than a dust shield and unless you are worried about factory correctness, spiraling on duct tape or even 2" wide masking tape and spraying the tape black would work.

[60sstuff]

Terry,

Is this sleeve your asking about matches what I show in these photos?

It’s “rubber” and is 2-1/4” x 1-1/2” long and is number 16 in illustration.


I’m not sure about the plastic sleeve talked about in post 4 and 5.

Chris.

[OG68]

Good question and my mistake for not reading thoroughly.

[lust4speed]

Now I'm confused, but since I mentioned the fibrous paper covering I just as well post a pic or two. These are shorter than the longer plastic sleeve and were originally glued in place. While this one was in pretty good shape the glue had given out and it was free to slide on the tube so I just taped it in place with electrical tape. It was also a flat finish and now painted semi-gloss. Chose functionality over originality.

[60sstuff]

Originally Posted by lust4speed

Now I'm confused, but since I mentioned the fibrous paper covering I just as well post a pic or two. These are shorter than the longer plastic sleeve and were originally glued in place. While this one was in pretty good shape the glue had given out and it was free to slide on the tube so I just taped it in place with electrical tape. It was also a flat finish and now painted semi-gloss. Chose functionality over originality.

Is that a 1967 steering column?

If so, that thin plastic sleeve is possibly covering the “first year” collapsible steering column?

Terry Hunt is asking about a ‘66 column.

Chris.

[OG68]

Thats where I wasn't paying attention.

[60sstuff]

Ed,

Here ya go.

Illustration of a 67-68 “Energy Absorbing” column.

Chris.

[lust4speed]

Yeah, forgot about that '67 was the initial year of the collapsible column. So the metal tube in a '66 should be a solid piece and nothing really to protect from dirt with the plastic sleeve?

[Terry M. Hunt]

Yes, Chris, the piece I’m looking to replace is #16 on your diagram. I was wrong in describing it as 4 or 5 inches long. See the attached pics of my sleeve, which seems to match the the 2 1/4 by 1 1/2 specs shown in your pic from the factory manual/parts book. MIne is cracked and split in a number of places even after soaking in Armor All for days. Don’t see anything on the Steele Rubber Parts site or on any of the GTO restoration catalogs that I can use. Haven’t looked at all the other GM A body on line catalogs or all the Corvette catalogs yet. Maybe I can find some kind of rubber hose that I can cut a section from. Was hoping somebody who has already researched all this would chime in.

[gtospieg]

Terry...maybe Home Depot or Lowes has something that will work for this...just a thought

[Old Goat 67]

A 1 1/2" piece of radiator hose.

[Cardo]

+2... I ended up making mine out of a piece of radiator hose too. It was a bit snug, but i got it to work.

[Terry M. Hunt]

I had thought about the radiator hose angle. I have a good family owned parts store that will probably let me browse around through their hoses to find something I can cut a section out of.

[Jeff Hamlin]

If you find a rad hose is too soft/thin, look for a local Hydro shop.
Those hoses tend to be thicker/stiffer and may work better for the column damper seal.
JM2C

Cheers.

[Terry M. Hunt]

Searched through my stash of radiator hoses. Found one I had bought just to get the anti collapse spring out of it. No idea what the application was, but it had the perfect OD. Wall thickness was greater than the old sleeve from my column and ID was a little smaller than my old sleeve. I kept working with it until I managed to get it over the mast jacket and then through the hole in the plate that secures the column to the lower firewall. Don’t have it positioned exactly where it needs to be, but will wait until I install it in the car to make that adjustment.