[Entropy11]

Any ideas where to look for a “Lower steering shaft bearing spring (6.526)”? It’s the last piece attached to the upper shaft after it passes through the firewall, just before the coupling where it attaches to the intermediate shaft. I’ll add a few pics I’ve found online.

I assume It’s basically a bearing preload spring and sadly, I don’t have one. I believe it’s ‘68/A-body specific as ‘69 went to a different bearing, and other body cars used a different setup. I found something that looks similar from a ‘68 Corvette but I don’t have much hope in it being correct once it gets here.

Would love to track down the right part or something that would work. Does anybody happen to have the parts catalog with an actual part number? Maybe that might cross to some other vehicle and lead somewhere?

Thanks!

[ts3189]

I will check tommorrow, I have the upper not sure on the lower.

[OG68]

I'm pretty sure the 67 and 68 columns are the same internally for A-B-F bodied Chevy, Buick, Olds and Pontiac. Minor differences between the makes IRT the upper bowl, tilt columns and shaft lengths.
When I rebuilt my 68 GTO column I sourced most of the parts from a Camaro vendor.

[OG68]

The spring was moved from group 6.526 to 6.521. The same spring was used for standard or tilt columns.

Part # 7801197

The service manual has a good breakdown of the column.

[Entropy11]

Originally Posted by ts3189

I will check tommorrow, I have the upper not sure on the lower.

I appreciate that. Thanks so much. 👍

[Entropy11]

Originally Posted by OG68

The spring was moved from group 6.526 to 6.521. The same spring was used for standard or tilt columns.

Part # 7801197

The service manual has a good breakdown of the column.

Thanks OG, I was hoping you’d chime in too. I read and learned so much about this particular column from your posts here and on another forum.

That pic in the restoration guide always throws me a bit. I think I just struggle with them saying 67-68 but can’t get past how they show the shaft with a flange on it and an extra part or two down by the spring in question. The service manual seems to talk about more parts in the rebuild than the parts diagrams show. Most of the Camaro columns I see (67-68?) all seem to have a threaded ring down there where it looks as though you can dial-in the preload you want with the threaded part.

I also appreciate the part numbers and pics. That’ll help me do a little digging. Thanks again!

[Scott Thelander]

I have a spare on a 68 column shift
Won’t be able to ship til Saturday tho

Scott
2o6-4six5-9165

[OG68]

Yeah, the 68 service manual shows an 67 automatic column shift as does the illustrated parts catalog. The column shifted manual is similar. The floor shift column is missing a few parts from the SM drawing but is basically the same without the shift tube and levers.

[ts3189]

Og68, I do not have the lower spring, best to circle back with Scott.

[Entropy11]

Originally Posted by Scott Thelander

I have a spare on a 68 column shift
Won’t be able to ship til Saturday tho

Scott
2o6-4six5-9165

Thanks Scott, I appreciate your help. I’ll keep you in mind if what I stumbled across tonight doesn’t pan out.

I found a guy on marketplace about 5min away from me that was selling a ‘68 Firebird floor shift column cheap. It looked pretty bad from sitting unprotected for years. Fortunately it still had some decent parts on it and he offered it to me for next to nothing so I grabbed it. It’s the type that has the adjustable preload threaded end but I’m still hoping that those have the same spring hidden inside. I’ll find out tomorrow when I get into it. It’s not coming apart too easily.

Thanks ts3189 for checking on that for me. Much appreciated!