I recently downloaded a document titled "GMC Motorhome Maintenance & Information Notes" dated February, 1993. In that collection of notes was the following bolded comment:
3A) Steering
Steering 17.5:1 ratio 2.95 turns lock to lock
A} Miscellaneous Steering
a) Center steering wheel: adjust, tie rods equally on opposite directions. b) Steering centering device: SAFE-T-PLUS $325 -
United Safety Apparatus Inc, 2150 Moreland Avenue S.E.,
Atlanta GA 30315. 800-872-7233 404-66~,1341
c) Telescoping steering wheel: Use column from;'68 to 76 Buick/Olds/Cad. reprint of procedure $3 from editor
Use from 74 to 78 full size GM cars
d) U shaped steering wheel: From 85/86 Olds Cutlass Supreme will fit and allow a better
view of dash.

The author, John N. Engebretsen PE, appears to have passed away. Is anyone familiar with the author's comment of "Reprint of procedure $3 from editor"? I am certain it's not too involved but perhaps some of the wiring is different. I have a 1972 Olds 98 Tilt/Tele I would like to swap in.

Thanks for any help.

Sir: you can not simply swap in the column as the lower half is motorhome only, but you can marry the two, or 3, or 4. The early telescopic feature should be 3" telescopic and later ones are only 2". You can also add features from the 1988 and up columns and to pre airbag. Like dimmer on the stalk, later stepper motor cruise switch, flash to pass, cornering lights and of course telescopic. The steering wheel is tricky with telescopic cause you have to have an unlocking lever. Some steering wheels can be modified to use Caddy type lever or a Corvette or KW type horn button unlock feature. Also you have to have a steering wheel with the correct length column cover on it to cover the 2 or 3 inched telescoped. If you do the dimmer on the stalk you will need to make the dimmer rod longer or get a donor column from a G10 that is correct length. It does make a nice touch to the GMC. I'll add some links to try and help.


http://www.gmceast.com/technical/Sharpe_Replace-Upper-Steering-Column.pdf

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g6022-s-10-steering-wheel-caddy-conversion.html

http://www.gmceast.com/technical/Sowers_Steering_Column_Upgrade_Repair.pdf
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/crestmont/p41180-crestmont-dash.html
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/crestmont/p37993-caddy-column.html

C Boyd wrote on Sun, 11 August 2019 17:49

Sir: you can not simply swap in the column as the lower half is motorhome only, but you can marry the two, or 3, or 4. The early telescopic feature should be 3" telescopic and later ones are only 2". You can also add features from the 1988 and up columns and to pre airbag. Like dimmer on the stalk, later stepper motor cruise switch, flash to pass, cornering lights and of course telescopic. The steering wheel is tricky with telescopic cause you have to have an unlocking lever. Some steering wheels can be modified to use Caddy type lever or a Corvette or KW type horn button unlock feature. Also you have to have a steering wheel with the correct length column cover on it to cover the 2 or 3 inched telescoped. If you do the dimmer on the stalk you will need to make the dimmer rod longer or get a donor column from a G10 that is correct length. It does make a nice touch to the GMC. I'll add some links to try and help.


http://www.gmceast.com/technical/Sharpe_Replace-Upper-Steering-Column.pdf

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g6022-s-10-steering-wheel-caddy-conversion.html

http://www.gmceast.com/technical/Sowers_Steering_Column_Upgrade_Repair.pdf
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/crestmont/p41180-crestmont-dash.html
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/crestmont/p37993-caddy-column.html

Do you know of someone out here in CA that has done an upper steering wheel tilt/tele swap that I can contact? This motorhome is new territory to me even though I have worked on many GM vehicles in the past like my '67 Toronado.

No sir I don't know anyone. It isn't really hard. I figure if I can do it, anybody can. It does get easier after you do 25 or so..

Great links below to the step by step swap"s thanks for posting - What part of the total column is motor-home only? Can these replacement columns be used all the way to the 'Lower shaft joint assembly'? (#8 on page 16-6 of the parts book) I guess another way to ask it: Is the lower vertical part that hooks into the steering gear box the only motor home "only" section?

Joe & Valerie Karls Racine, Wisconsin 53402 - 1976 Eleganza II,

Thanks for the comments Mr Boyd - My column has the broken pot metal, tilt flop's around and I also have to search for the gears. It's a mess. You don't happen to take on jobs like this do you???? I can do just about anything but this one scares me :-/

Sir: you can not simply swap in the column as the lower half is motorhome only, but you can marry the two, or 3, or 4. The early telescopic feature should be 3" telescopic and later ones are only 2". You can also add features from the 1988 and up columns and to pre airbag. Like dimmer on the stalk, later stepper motor cruise switch, flash to pass, cornering lights and of course telescopic. The steering wheel is tricky with telescopic cause you have to have an unlocking lever. Some steering wheels can be modified to use Caddy type lever or a Corvette or KW type horn button unlock feature. Also you have to have a steering wheel with the correct length column cover on it to cover the 2 or 3 inched telescoped. If you do the dimmer on the stalk you will need to make the dimmer rod longer or get a donor column from a G10 that is correct length. It does make a nice touch to the GMC. I'll add some links to try and help.


http://www.gmceast.com/technical/Sharpe_Replace-Upper-Steering-Column.pdf

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g6022-s-10-steering-wheel-caddy-conversion.html

http://www.gmceast.com/technical/Sowers_Steering_Column_Upgrade_Repair.pdf
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/crestmont/p41180-crestmont-dash.html
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/crestmont/p37993-caddy-column.html

.

C Boyd wrote on Sun, 11 August 2019 19:49

Sir: you can not simply swap in the column as the lower half is motorhome only, but you can marry the two, or 3, or 4. The early telescopic feature should be 3" telescopic and later ones are only 2". You can also add features from the 1988 and up columns and to pre airbag. Like dimmer on the stalk, later stepper motor cruise switch, flash to pass, cornering lights and of course telescopic. The steering wheel is tricky with telescopic cause you have to have an unlocking lever. Some steering wheels can be modified to use Caddy type lever or a Corvette or KW type horn button unlock feature. Also you have to have a steering wheel with the correct length column cover on it to cover the 2 or 3 inched telescoped. If you do the dimmer on the stalk you will need to make the dimmer rod longer or get a donor column from a G10 that is correct length. It does make a nice touch to the GMC. I'll add some links to try and help.


http://www.gmceast.com/technical/Sharpe_Replace-Upper-Steering-Column.pdf

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g6022-s-10-steering-wheel-caddy-conversion.html

http://www.gmceast.com/technical/Sowers_Steering_Column_Upgrade_Repair.pdf
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/crestmont/p41180-crestmont-dash.html
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/crestmont/p37993-caddy-column.html

.

Thank you so much. Now I have a starting point!