[kthelen]

Just picked up a '71 Grand Prix this morning. It was a recent arrival at a local junkyard, waaaay too clean to be there, so I decided to liberate it :-)

Unfortunately, a few things were removed before I got there. Most annoying was the spindles, power steering box and pump, etc... all of which will be "borrowed" from a parts car of mine to make it roll once again. But what I'm thinking about now are the two other missing items.


Steering Column: Some idiot took it out "dirty", cutting wires, etc. I have a few on hand, but they go with complete interior sets I have bagged and tagged, which I'd rather not break up. (I may have a "sloppy" 72 Prix tilt column somewhere in the attic, which would be a perfect temporary part... if I can find it!)

Hollander says only a 71-72 GP or Tempest/LeMans column will fit, which I find a bit hard to believe. Can anyone tell me what makes the Pontiac floor-shift columns differ from other A-Body cars? And, for that matter, are there any other GM products whose columns can be made to work? Harness differences don't bother me, since this car's is already hacked.


Bucket Frames: Guess I'll never know what kind of shape this car's seats were in, 'cause they were gone before I got there! This was a "triple green" car. Since I have no green interior parts on hand, that means I'd have to recover a pair, so I figure I may as well start with rough ones.

I've heard, and seen pictures, that seem to suggest the various A-body cars of this generation may have used the same seat frames and mounting hardware. Anybody know if there's any truth to that?

And since a thread without pics is useless, here's one. Currently digging into it and letting my findings help determine its future.


--Keith

[north]

All 69-72 A, B and G bucket seat frames are basically the same. The tracks vary by application but the basic frame, spring set etc interchange. Even 66-68 buckets work but they either have the side release latch or in 66 no release latch for the seat back.

As for columns the main parts from 69-72 A and G all interchange but there are some differences on the covers where they meet the dash pad. Also column shift Pontiacs are different because they have a column mounted rather than sash mounted shift indicator. There were some minor wiring issues but all are correctable.

Don’t forget that the G body has a longer lower column extension than the A bodies of yours is also missing that.

['ol Pinion head]

Hollander is correct on the columns,
- '69-70 Pontiac A-body/GP is one style,
- '71-72 A-body/GP column is another style.
('69-72 Chevy auto F/S columns are near identical to '71-72 Pontiac A-body/GP floor shift.)
-'69-72 manual trans Chevelle F/S has the short lower leg.

Olds & Buick A-body columns for these years have their own peculiarities, a few have fish mouth cut lower bowls, pointers on one style to go up under the dash bezel for PRNDSL.

Replacing the original turn signal switch is not that difficult, will need a Rymac tool to remove the lock ring on the lock plate. don't forget all 3 small yellow plastic washers when putting the dust cover back on the lock plate.

On the '69-72 A-body buckets, the molded foam is different between '69-70 Pontiac A-body & GP buckets & '71-71 Pontiac A-body & GP buckets. The bucket seat cores are the same. have fairly good stock of all above.

With many different styles, different conditions, have seen no reason to advertise buckets or columns here on PY... sold two tilt floorshifts last week.