69 Camaro Tilt column

[waynechipman]

Hi, I bought a 69 Camaro a couple years ago. I have done a lot of research. It came from the factory with a tilt column. The guy who owned it before me had a rebuilt column put in. He and the guy who did it threw away the old tilt. They did not have a clue about the worth of having the original parts.  My question is this, are there any connectors or parts that would be underdash to signify any difference between tilt and non tilt cars. Or am I screwed and the only backup I have is the word of the previous owners. One I do not know the Other that I bought from has no reason to lie and has been helpful since I purchased the car. I didn't ask any questions prior to purchase and only looked at the car for mybe 10 seconds before purchasing. He has no reason to lie whatsoever about the car. It is a shame they tossed the column as only a little ove 6000 out of 240,000 had it. Thanks

[copo]

I installed a tilt steering column in a 69 Z28 a few years ago. All the electrical plug ends and mounting brackets were the same as the standard column. The only difference between the standard column and tilt column is the ignition start switch.If your new column has the correct switch, you should no problems installing the column.

[william]

When the ignition switch was added to the column they were designed to fit a number of models. Therefore most of the "69 Camaro" tilt columns on the market weren't born there. The main difference as I recall is the configuration of the reverse lock arm at the bottom.

If you buy one make sure the lower flange is included. On the standard column the flange is part of the steering shaft. On a tilt the shaft is splined for a separate forged flange, tilt only.

[69Z28-RS]

When the ignition switch was added to the column they were designed to fit a number of models. Therefore most of the "69 Camaro" tilt columns on the market weren't born there. The main difference as I recall is the configuration of the reverse lock arm at the bottom.

If you buy one make sure the lower flange is included. On the standard column the flange is part of the steering shaft. On a tilt the shaft is splined for a separate forged flange, tilt only.

William,
Your post above is from 7 yrs ago, but I've a question concerning your comment about 'splined vs non-splined' flange on tilt vs non-tilt columns.    I've got my original car partially disassembled for cleaning/preservation/maintenance, and I see that my original NON-tilt column does have a splined shaft for the coupler flange (as does the tilt column that I want to install in it's place).   The purpose of my question is to confirm that I interpreted your comment correctly?  and if your position has changed sinc 2005?   (My car was a very late '69, so maybe they changed them all to being splined later in the year?)..
Gary / 69Z28-RS

[william]

It could be all standard columns were changed for the 1970 model year. I believe A bodies used the same basic column as Camaro with a shaft extension. If a splined column was furnished to the plant with the flange installed it would assemble the same. There is no difference noted in the assembly manual for either column and they were different for some time.

I will have to make it a point to check Norwood cars built after N670xxx. Always someting new to learn!

[Kelley W King]

I bought one for a 69 I had in the 90,s from a guy whose co. was called GM tilt at a show. He had at least 20 at the show. After installing it the turn signals or somethings were backwords. I called and he told me to switch some wires at the connector which I then noticed the color codes were moved from one to the other. I called him back to say it worked and asked where he got so many tilt columns. He said he searched for Olds Omegas and Pontiac Venturas in junkyards because more of them had tilt and were cheaper and it was the same unit

[69Z28-RS]

It could be all standard columns were changed for the 1970 model year. I believe A bodies used the same basic column as Camaro with a shaft extension. If a splined column was furnished to the plant with the flange installed it would assemble the same. There is no difference noted in the assembly manual for either column and they were different for some time.

I will have to make it a point to check Norwood cars built after N670xxx. Always someting new to learn!

William,
I was mistaken on my earlier post; after a closer examination of my 'standard original column', I realized the splined coupler I was referring to was on the 'steering box' side of the joint;  my std columnn has a welded coupler..  so you were RIGHT in your earlier post..  and I wanted to correct what I'd said earlier.. 

Hope your holidays were merry!   
Gary

[Charley]

Most of the other tilts they sell only have maybe 4 tilt positions while I think  real 69's had 6 ? Memory gets fuzzy with old age.

[69Z28-RS]

Another difference I noted between the tilt column I have (purchased 35 yrs ago at a swap meet with a rosewood camaro wheel on it for $65!)..   and the std column is the shape of the reverse lockout lever...   std column is almost straight, whereas the tilt I have the lever has an angled bend to it...

Gary

[Frosty69]

Is there a way to tell if the car originally had a tilt column if the original column is no longer in the car? My car was stolen from the original owner and the steering column removed, we understand because it was a tilt. The car was loaded with options, RS, AC, deluxe interior and power windows so a tilt column would fit right in.

[tmodel66]

Is there a way to tell if the car originally had a tilt column if the original column is no longer in the car? My car was stolen from the original owner and the steering column removed, we understand because it was a tilt. The car was loaded with options, RS, AC, deluxe interior and power windows so a tilt column would fit right in.

Nope not without paper work such as the window sticker.

[69Z28-RS]

I just wanted to correct what I'd wrote below re the rev lockout lever; it turns out the tilt column I believed was for a Camaro, was actually for a Chevelle (it had a different shaped reverse lockout lever).   Camaro rev lo levers are the same for tilt and non tilt, per the experts who redo tilt columns (Gary's Classics in TX)..

Another difference I noted between the tilt column I have (purchased 35 yrs ago at a swap meet with a rosewood camaro wheel on it for $65!)..   and the std column is the shape of the reverse lockout lever...   std column is almost straight, whereas the tilt I have the lever has an angled bend to it...