So my long term plan for my J-Truck is to swap in a Chevy 5.3/4L60 that's sitting in the garage. Right now I have the 360/727 in it. I know that the 3 speed steering column shifter won't work for the 4 speed 4L60. So I want to start talking options for shifting the trans once it's installed.
I'm thinking that I basically have 3 options when I go to do this swap:
1. Keep the stock column and put in an aftermarket floor shifter for the trans.
Pros: Easiest to accomplish. Probably lowest cost.
Cons: Unused shifter, even with the handle removed, looks bad.
2. Swap in a steering column from a manual trans equipped FSJ (i.e. no trans shifter on the column at all) and use an aftermarket floor shifter for the trans.
Pros: Almost as easy to accomplish as #1 since column swaps from one FSJ to another probably aren't much more than a few bolts and an electrical plug or two. Looks relatively clean without the unused shifter assembly on the column.
Cons: Costs more than just leaving the original column in there. Availability of a used column in good shape is unknown. Have to buy two parts, the column and the aftermarket floor shifter (which takes up floor space).
3. Finding a compatible 4 speed shift column and swapping it in.
Pros: Cleanest install look if it works.
Cons: Several unknowns: Will just any GM truck steering column swap in? How does the linkage differ and how easy is it to adapt? What about color matching the interior? How much custom fabrication is involved and how much will bolt in with little or no modification?
So I guess the point of this thread is to start soliciting information from people in the know about the steering column.
What can you tell me about the factory steering column? Is it really just a GM part like they used in their trucks? Could I just grab a steering column from an automatic equipped late 80's full size Chevy truck and bolt it in? How much of the shift linkage would I need to grab with it? How much would I have to fabricate? Is there a universal column that I could buy from somewhere that I can bolt in and make work?
Any relevant discussion on the topic would be welcome.
I'm thinking that I basically have 3 options when I go to do this swap:
1. Keep the stock column and put in an aftermarket floor shifter for the trans.
Pros: Easiest to accomplish. Probably lowest cost.
Cons: Unused shifter, even with the handle removed, looks bad.
2. Swap in a steering column from a manual trans equipped FSJ (i.e. no trans shifter on the column at all) and use an aftermarket floor shifter for the trans.
Pros: Almost as easy to accomplish as #1 since column swaps from one FSJ to another probably aren't much more than a few bolts and an electrical plug or two. Looks relatively clean without the unused shifter assembly on the column.
Cons: Costs more than just leaving the original column in there. Availability of a used column in good shape is unknown. Have to buy two parts, the column and the aftermarket floor shifter (which takes up floor space).
3. Finding a compatible 4 speed shift column and swapping it in.
Pros: Cleanest install look if it works.
Cons: Several unknowns: Will just any GM truck steering column swap in? How does the linkage differ and how easy is it to adapt? What about color matching the interior? How much custom fabrication is involved and how much will bolt in with little or no modification?
So I guess the point of this thread is to start soliciting information from people in the know about the steering column.
What can you tell me about the factory steering column? Is it really just a GM part like they used in their trucks? Could I just grab a steering column from an automatic equipped late 80's full size Chevy truck and bolt it in? How much of the shift linkage would I need to grab with it? How much would I have to fabricate? Is there a universal column that I could buy from somewhere that I can bolt in and make work?
Any relevant discussion on the topic would be welcome.
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