Help In Lowering Steering Column on a 74 w A/C

[Dan T.]

I am doing some restoritve work on a 74 coupe and I am trying to replace the tach cable, neutral start switch, and left speaker. To do this I need to remove the left dash pad and I am stuck. I have removed the right dash and center console and all the ac/heater ducting, but I cannot remove the left dash.

I have removed the two bolts that appear to hold the column in place just below the dash pad and have removed all the screws in the dash pad, but the steering column only moves about a half inch. My impression is that it would drop about 2 to 4 inches.

I have a tilt and telescoping steering wheel and have read the manual which details how to remove the steering wheel and column, but makes no reference to how to 'lower' the steering column. Is there a way to lower this without removing everything?

[Robert S.]

Re: Help In Lowering Steering Column on a 74 w A/C

You can get the steering column to drop down lower by loosening the nuts on the two bolts that go through the car body at the base of the steering column. However rather than pulling the left side gauge panel out I completely, I would remove the upper dash pad. You are very close to being able to do this given what you have diassembled so far. To do this you will need to remove the interior trim pieces at the left and right side of the windshield and remove the screw on the bracket that attaches to the underside of the dashpad near the dashpad center. With a slight flex of the dashpad in the center it will come right out. You will need to unplug the speaker leads. This will allow you to change out the speakers and will give you access, from the top, to unplug the tachometer cable from the back side of the tachometer.

[Jim S.]

Re: Help In Lowering Steering Column on a 74 w A/C

You should not let the steering column just hang, unsupported from the dash. You are essentially cantilevering the column at the welded bracket at the base of the column and at the flexible coupling out at the gear connection. As mentioned above you need to remove the two nuts down by your feet where the column attaches to the dash panel as well as the two vertical bolts that hold the column up into the dash.

You can ruin the lower bearing or break the lower mast jacket tubing with the column unsupported.

Even with the A pillar padding removed you still will need to flex the dash pad to remove it from the car. If the pad is original, it could be quite brittle. Some people warm it up with a hair dryer or leave the car and pad out in the warm sunlight to allow it to bend more easily.

I think that the assembly plant just have installed the pad before the windshield was in place. (Just my thought.)
Jim

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Help In Lowering Steering Column on a 74 w A/C

Dale,
The safest and easiest procedure is to separate the rag joint (2 bolts), remove the 2 nuts at base of interior steering column, and, from under the hood, move the interlock plate away from firewall. Now you can just pull complete column rearward and lay it on the seat. No electrical connectors need to be undone.
Jeff