I am in search of some wisdom!! I just bought a 71 with a busted steering column. I bought a tilt column off a guy that said it was out of a gen 2 car. I pulled the broken one and realized it had a spline connector. The one I bought was a flattened shaft with a bolt hole (not sure of the nomenclature). Can I just replace the shaft down to the steering box or is there an adaptor out there? It has power steering.

Thanks!!

 

The replacement you purchased is for a later GM, and they use different shafts depending on the year. Need to get you to measure the dimensions of the new column's shaft to determine if you have standard 3/4" double D shaft, or internal double D shaft. The earlier are 3/4" external measurement, while later accept a 3/4" double D slid up inside.
Either can adapt to your car, but without dimensions I can't tell you which way to go. Either way it will probably not be cheap, as the various parts for steering shaft, and components are all expensive, even the plain 3/4" double D shaft.

 

thank you.. I ended up buying a shaft off of a later model, knocked the pins out and swapped ends so that the double D connector bolted onto the column and I was able to use the original end of the shaft to hook back up to the steering box. I re-drilled and pinned it and it works great.

 

next question.. I am about to swap out engines and need to decide on headers. I have a super T-10 4sp. what do you recommend for header options that wont interfere with the clutch linkage? my engine builder says he recommends mid length headers but I will have to find something that works around all the parts. is there a specific, Camaro/4 speed set or do I need to just order a set and see what happens?? Thanks again!!

 

Check out the various full length headers and pick one. Then contact the maker to see if they have any input on whether there's an issue with a 4 speed car. Most I've seen had the collectors and tubes low enough that the Z bar and linkage was above and not an issue.
You can also go on Summit's site and find the header you want. Then click on "application" tab, and select the "year", "model", "engine", etc. and it will state in the details if they work with an automatic, stick, floor shift, column shift, etc.
Here's an example of what shows when I just searched for the inexpensive $115 Summit brand:

Make:
CHEVROLET


Model:
CAMARO


Submodel:
Z28


Beginning Year:
1971


Ending Year:
1972


Engine Type:
V8


Engine Size:
5.7L/350


Engine Family:
Chevy small block Gen I


Drivetrain:
RWD


Engine Swap:
No


Power Steering:
Yes


Power Brakes (application):
Yes


Air Conditioning:
Yes


Standard Transmission Column Shift:
No


Standard Transmission Floor Shift:
Yes


Automatic Transmission Column Shift:
Yes


Automatic Transmission Floor Shift:
Yes


Footnotes:
3 - Must modify stock exhaust to retain catalytic converters.
6 - Applications with oxygen sensor use reducer BIG-10105 for 2 1/2" 3 bolt flange or BIG-10110 for 3" 3 bolt flange.
31 - Must modify lower A-Arm support bracket on 1979-81 models.
58 - Will NOT fit angle plug heads.