Ididit Tilt Steering Column - Tech

If you have an old steering column on your classic ride, you might have noticed that it has too much "play" in it as you drive. This isn't safe and an old steering column should be replaced. A newer-style tilt steering column, like the ones produced by Ididit, is just the ticket. Ididit has columns available for '63-'64 Chevy Impalas and are starting to produce columns for earlier and later model Impalas.

Ididit tilt columns have a few advantages over the stock columns; the most important being that they remove a lot of the looseness in the steering and give the car better handling. The inner "guts" of Ididit columns are precision machined and equipped with newer bearings that enable the driver to turn quicker. An added bonus is that Ididit columns have safety hazard lights that are easy to access; all you have to do is pull the switch like on a newer car.

While the pros at John's Exports in Long Beach, California, were going over Editor Lonnie Lopez' '64 Impala, they also noticed that the transmission linkage was modified and could accidentally allow the car to shift into gear so the old modified linkage was scrapped and replaced. John Kennedy's crew made a few pit stops and stopped at Cars, Inc. in Fullerton, California, where they picked up some dress-up parts for the column and a universal transmission linkage.

The other stop was at CPP (Classic Performance Products) in Buena Park, California, where they snapped up collapsible steering linkage. Using collapsible linkage is a great safety upgrade; the old-style steering columns were a fixed item and if you ever crashed the column could easily end up on your chest. The newer steering linkage will greatly reduce the risk of something that unfortunate happening. Plus, the tilt action makes getting in and out easier than ever.

Now let us show you step by step how the crew at John's Exports knock out a tilt steering upgrade in a matter of a few hours.

1. This Ididit tilt column was ready to be taken out on a test run.
2. The metal Ididit columns are available with a few different finish options, such as all-chrome. In our case, the column was ordered with a bare metal finish and was painted to match the exterior and dash of the '64 Impala.
2. The metal Ididit columns are available with a few different finish options, such as all
3. Lonnie's '64 Impala was ready to be retrofitted with a modern tilt column.

4. The stock column was checked before being removed.
5. When working on cars with hydraulics, always make sure that the power source is disconnected, as it could be a safety hazard. You should do the same for the car battery as you will also be dealing with electrical items.
5. When working on cars with hydraulics, always make sure that the power source is disconn
6. Master technician Mike Lopez started off by removing the ring horn and using a steering wheel puller to remove the steering wheel.
6. Master technician Mike Lopez started off by removing the ring horn and using a steering

7. Removing the steering wheel made it easier to handle the old steering column.
8. After unbolting the column, Mike slipped out the steering linkage.
9. Notice the difference between the old column and the new tilt column that would be replacing it.
9. Notice the difference between the old column and the new tilt column that would be repl

10. Mike removed the steering rag joint from the gearbox.
11. The gearbox was ready to be outfitted with new steering linkage.
12. Since this car was updated with a newer 350-c.i.d. engine and transmission. The transmission linkage was also updated using a newer Cars, Inc. universal setup, which will keep the transmission from slipping out of gear.
12. Since this car was updated with a newer 350-c.i.d. engine and transmission. The transm

13. We also had to update the steering linkage using collapsible linkage that we picked up from CPP.
13. We also had to update the steering linkage using collapsible linkage that we picked up
14. You can see how the old firewall dust shield for the steering column needed to be replaced.
14. You can see how the old firewall dust shield for the steering column needed to be repl
15. Mike slipped on the steering column dust shield.

16. The new column was ready to be wired and Huey plugged in the column harness. An extra feature is hazard lights that come with the new column.
16. The new column was ready to be wired and Huey plugged in the column harness. An extra
17. The collapsible shaft was measured and it needed to be cut to fit.
18. Mike tightened the universal joints to ensure that they wouldn't come loose.

19. To ensure that there was no pressure on the wheels, the '64 was lifted off of the ground using a floor jack. This helped keep the wheel straight when the column was connected to the steering shaft.
19. To ensure that there was no pressure on the wheels, the '64 was lifted off of the grou
20. The new collapsible steering linkage was then bolted on.
21. With all of the parts in place, you should be able to swap out the column in a few hours as we did with this Impala. Now the car was ready to roll with less play in the steering while driving.
21. With all of the parts in place, you should be able to swap out the column in a few hou