[Grand73Am]

You re-use the original snap-ring. It's just a stainless split-ring that you use a pick to pry one end of it out of its groove and then pry the rest of it out of the groove up onto the shaft and push it up off of the shaft. When you're putting it back together, put the lock plate tool back on, press down on the plate and slide the ring back on down the shaft and back into its groove. Remove tool.

And no, Firebirds don't have corner lights. The second number must be right, although the GM numbers should be 1997983, even though you have written 1997988. Maybe somebody mistook a the 3 for an 8?

[JP_79Formula]

Those part #'s came off the Rock Auto catalog.
Since 1997983 is the right number, i guess either it's a typo,
or maybe an interchangeable part.

Getting the retaining ring off worked perfectly just like you said.
Just pried it up and then slid it up the shaft... Thanks!

This pic shows where i'm at. I want to get out the turn lever holder, the
black tab on the left with the hole connects to it. But i can't pull out the
whole switch (wires attached?) or get the lever connector out. Does the
lever holder come out from the side? Or is there more work down on
the column to get this whole switch assembly out?

["QUICK-SILVER"]

I'm thinking the piece of metal that goes to the plastic part of the turn lever fits in a groove and should just slip out towards the middle of the column. Could be that who ever did the jb weld repairs has it glued in.

Best way to raise the turn signal switch is to take the connector lose from the column, under the dash, and unplug it. The wires will slide up through a protective sleeve. It wont come out but it will let you raise the turn signal switch up out of the way.

[GStage1]

You basically have to remove the upper collar from the column....remove the turn signal switch and then you will see 3 screws holding the collar to the column....once you remove them you can access the switch.

[azkeebler]

I'm sure some of these have become obvious by now, or have found out, but, for others to take note:

Hazard switch needs to be romoved to remove the turn cam. Either unscrews or has a screw in middle of head as in this model year pictured above. Often over looked.

Ignition cylinder: before the upper collar comes apart, you will need to remove the ignition lock cylinder. This is often retained by a torx head screw , sometimes a hex-head. Some other models, pre-74 are retainer spring clips that are difficult to see. Also, the igniton buzzer is a small square device that should come out to prevent damage ,located below the lock cylinder in the collar,pulls straight out. !! Remove key from igntion cylinder or cylinder before removing buzzer spring. Install before installing the ignition cylinder!

High beam rod:As the upper collar comes apart away from the column, the high-beam activating rod will dislodge from switch further below on the column on left side. You will need to realign properly when reinstalling upper collar with assembly in upper collar.

Rack&pinion for ignition cylinder to switch. Having problems turning off the car , or accessory position hanging up or not functioning anymore? While you are this far, it may be wise to replace your rack & pinion assembly if have a tilt column that is tilted fairly often. This replacement is a "help" item 83211, but prefer an original GM or from our host. This gear setup connects the lock cylinder to the igntion switch rod that conects to the switch further below as well. Seems to be a weak spot on these columns as I used to have service calls of at least two or three a week during locksmithing career in arizona as one side would crack and owner loses complete control of igntion switch operation, or becomes springy feeling due to one side has broken. This will however require a pivot pin puller (power built #647073) that can be found at your local auto parts store. This removes the pivot pins that pivot the column. The pivot pin runs through the rack.

Excessive play (up,down, side to side movement in column) Another problem to be remedied when this far is excessive play in your tilt column. There are four convexed star bolts that mount the base of the collar to the shaft below. Another weak spot on these due to owners using the steering wheel to enter or exit the driver's seat, and simply alot of driving. This will also require the pivot pin removal, and a tension spring removal, and tilt ball removal and inspection. This task would be for the more brave individuals.

Back to turn signal lever. After the point to where you remove the turn signal cam, you might be able to poke around and pop the remaining broken stalk out of assembly that rotates on the pin on left. That pin does come out, but again, I don't recall which way or how as I usually completely rebuilt these columns from ground up. A dental pick or allen wrench may be adequate to do this from behind.

Sorry, I do not have any of these later tilt comluns with the highbeam on the column to take pics of for reference at this time.

scott

[2002Z4CSS]

Originally Posted by azkeebler

I've removed broken stalks a few times on these columns. It isn't as scary as originally perceived, however, if i remember correctly, you need remove steering wheel, lock cam, and upper shroud. Once you are able to gain access to the assembly that sits on a pin on the upper shell, you just use a pick or awl and pop the remaining stalk out from the backside, then reassemble your column and pop the new lever right in. I will search if I still have a '79-80 column here to disassemble and take pics, don't think I do though.

I made a special tool to remove the broken lever piece when I worked in a GM dealer. Works perfect without having to take the column apart. My son's 1979 and 1981 Camaros don't have the dimmer switch on the tilt columns. Maybe a Pontiac thing.

[Ollie]

Originally Posted by 2002Z4CSS

I made a special tool to remove the broken lever piece when I worked in a GM dealer. Works perfect without having to take the column apart. My son's 1979 and 1981 Camaros don't have the dimmer switch on the tilt columns. Maybe a Pontiac thing.

Come on!!!! don't hold out on us. lol Do you have a photo of the tool? Or can you describe it?
Also describe the technique used to remove the broken part

[2002Z4CSS]

Originally Posted by Ollie

Come on!!!! don't hold out on us. lol Do you have a photo of the tool? Or can you describe it?
Also describe the technique used to remove the broken part

No photo. The tool was an old screwdriver that I ground off the broken end so it was just a round shaft remaining. I bent a tight "U" in the end of the shaft that would be a bit smalled diameter than the turnsignal lever shaft. Going through the square opening of the column housing I could get in front of the broken lever and push it through the turn signal piviot assembly. Even the Snap On man was impressed and wanted to get my design to show Snap On. With cruise control I used a peice of mechanics wire and fished the cruise lever wiring down the column. Job used to pay 1.2 hours and I would have them done in about 10 minutes.

[azkeebler]

Okay, lucky me!! Found a unit that is not in a column, I may be able to show what you are trying to accomplish here.
In this pic, shows the assembly. The unit is in the same position as the pic supplied by JP_79formula above. For reference. The slide you see with dark grease is where that flat steel plate rides in, that you unscrewed from the plastic cam.


This pic shows the rear, where the tip of the pen is, is where you need to get a tool in to pop the broken shaft out.


Beside my unclear decscription, I hope this does help some.

[Ollie]

Thanks azkeebler and 2002Z4CSS

Just to clarify a little bit the lever slides in the hole you are showing with the pen, it does not turn to lock in.
I was thinking the the broken end had to be turned to line the tab up with a slot in order to remove it.

[azkeebler]

Hi Ollie,

I see a groove in the retainer showing that you may be correct as far as a turn needed to remove correctly. If so, looking from outside the column at the lever, to loosen, you would turn clockwise unlock then remove, however, I don't remember ever doing so to remove broken ones. For sure on the unit pictured , I simply popped the broken piece with an awl. The replacemnet lever had no issues in it but had sold the lever since.

[2002Z4CSS]

That piece is the turn signal pivot. I will see if I can get a picture of the tool I made.

[Ollie]

Thanks, 2002Z4CSS,
A photo would be great.

azkeebler, You stated,
"I simply popped the broken piece with an awl."
Your above statement, did you have the steering wheel removed?
I was thinking of doing this with an awl or pin punch without removing the steering wheel. Do you think this could be done? Then removing the piece with a magnet screw retriever tool.

[azkeebler]

Hi Ollie, yes, I had the steering wheel removed along with the upper collar disassembled. However, the way 2002Z4CSS has explained is the way with the steering wheel still on sounds very convenient and efficient. I wonder if a crochet hook would be a similiar enough tool to work as 2002Z4CSS described. Once the broken peice begins to pertrude from it's hole, you can grab it with needle nose pliers and remove the rest before in falls into the collar. I may be wrong, but I don't think the shaft remains have enough actual metal for a magnet to retrieve.

[beastmaster]

Originally Posted by Grand73Am

The GM part number is 546777 for the 79-81 turn signal lever without cruise. It was used on 77-81 Full size Pontiac(bonneville), 78-81 mid size Pontiac(lemans, grand prix), and 79-81 firebird of course. So you may be able to find a used one with a junkyard trip.

If you want new, go to www.Partsvoice.com and register for free. You can then search for parts by brand(GM) using that part number and you'll find dealers that sell obsolete parts that will have the part. I looked it up and there are 3 dealers selling it. You have to call them for availability and price.

I was just about to start a thread with the same questions on finding an lever for a 79 column, tried Parts Voice but all sold out anywhere else ?

[Grand73Am]

You could try asking at your local GM dealer's parts counter. Give them the part number and they can check the dealer system to see if another dealership in the country has it, if they don't.

[Ollie]

Originally Posted by Grand73Am

You could try asking at your local GM dealer's parts counter. Give them the part number and they can check the dealer system to see if another dealership in the country has it, if they don't.

The turn signal lever has been out of production for so long, none of the GM dealers have one. Been there done that.

[Grand73Am]

Unless you've checked with a dealership parts department for that specific part number and found nobody in the country has one in their inventory, I wouldn't give up the dealership system yet . Even though the part has been out of production for a long time doesn't mean that an old dealership doesn't still have one of the shelf somewhere.

I have found obscure door window parts for my 73-77 a-bodys by calling a local GM dealership parts dept and he found 7 or 8 dealerships in the country with the part, even though I couldn't find it anywhere online. He gave me the names and phone numbers of the dealers and I stocked up on that part.

[JP_79Formula]

Been on the road for a week... now back to the project.

Thanks Scott for the how-to and pic of the lever assembly.

But, it's still not clear to me how to get the ignition cylinder out,
does it have to come out? The pic shows where i'm at, got the turn signal
switch assembly out of the way but didn't disconnect the wires. You can see
the lever attachment assembly on the bottom left, but it's fastened somehow
to the internals.

It may be obvious to try the big phillips head screws, but i'm getting down into
the rabbit hole and don't want to screw something up that i can't put back...
Thanks.

[azkeebler]

The ignition cylinder lock is held in by the black flat headed philips screw (in your case) in about the 2:00 position just behind your turn signal cam assembly in your pic.The square plastic piece partially covering the screw with the one brass and one silver contact is your buzzer. You will pull this straight out. Remember to not have a key in the ignition when you do this step. There will be a spring steel tensioner beneath it that may or may not come out with it. Take note of which direction it is in for reassembly. You need to remove the cylinder and the three large phillips cadmium screws to remove the upper collar. The reason the cylinder needs to come out to remove the upper collar is because the cylinder connects to the rack that controls the switch below through a blade pin in the lower collar. Sorry, hard to describe.

HOWEVER!!! When the upper collar starts to seperate from the lower collar, the headlight/highbeam actuator, cylinder to switch rack, steering lock pin and some other parts will start to fall out. You may want to try to fish that broken part out with a tool ( as 2002z4css suggested) before going this far as it is frustrating reassembling the upper collar if you have never done so or seen it done.

The turn signal pivot is held together by that pin you see that will press out towards the rear of the column, but only when the upper collar is seperated from the lower. Further disassembly of the column can become tricky and I just don't have access to one of these columns to help without details that I cannot remember off hand. Even though most gm columns are simliar, there are differences between years that may create misunderstandings or confusion. Example, your ignition cylinder seems to be help by a phillips screw, as most are torx.

I will be happy to help as much as I can, but just don't have a column with on column headlight controls for reference pics.