Tilt Wheel and power steering on a 66?

[Donald H.]

I have found a 66 that I am interested in. I have not been to look at the car, but may be going next week. Looks very nice in pictures, of course they all look nice in pictures. A couple of things I need some advice on. It has power steering, but I think this may be an add on. Its not a deal breaker for me, but is there an easy way to tell if it is factory power steering?

Also, it has a tilt wheel. I assume this has to be some aftermarket product. From the few pictures I have, the steering column pretty much look like a stock one, but there is an extra lever just behind the turn signal lever. I found a company Flaming River that sells tilt columns. Not sure if that is the only one, but is anyone familiar with this addition?

Thanks,

Don Harris

[Joe L.]

Re: Tilt Wheel and power steering on a 66?

I have found a 66 that I am interested in. I have not been to look at the car, but may be going next week. Looks very nice in pictures, of course they all look nice in pictures. A couple of things I need some advice on. It has power steering, but I think this may be an add on. Its not a deal breaker for me, but is there an easy way to tell if it is factory power steering?

Also, it has a tilt wheel. I assume this has to be some aftermarket product. From the few pictures I have, the steering column pretty much look like a stock one, but there is an extra lever just behind the turn signal lever. I found a company Flaming River that sells tilt columns. Not sure if that is the only one, but is anyone familiar with this addition?

Thanks,

Don Harris

Don------


If the power steering is a factory set-up, as most installed on Corvettes are, it's pretty hard to tell an original installation from a retrofitted installation. Even if incorrect components are observed, you still don't know if that indicates a retrofit since an original system could have been serviced with incorrect components. The only real way to tell is original documentation.

I am not familiar with retrofit tilt columns. However and of course, we know that no 1966 was ever originally fitted with a tilt column. The first year for tilt column in a Corvette was 1969. I don't think a 1969 column can be retrofitted to a 1966 and, even if it could, it would not look at all like a 1966 column. So, whatever column is installed in this car, it has to be an aftermarket, retrofit type. Personally, I wouldn't want that sort of thing.

[Russ S.]

Re: Tilt Wheel and power steering on a 66?

It is most likely a flaming river column or an ididit.

[Donald H.]

Re: Tilt Wheel and power steering on a 66?

Thanks Joe and Russ.

Don't think I will be going after this one. Some other things with the car give me concern, especially at the price they are asking.

Don