72 TA : New Project

[Jeff H]

The tilt wheel that was in my 70 L78 Camaro also made some noise. And if I turned the outside collar to tighten it, you couldn't start the car! I'm guessing the same problem you encountered.

[njsteve]

Update on that ringing sound that was allegedly from the column. Well, since the new non tilt column started making the same noise, I began the usual search and destroy mission to locate the source.

I unhooked the reverse light/ignition lock back drive linkage...no improvement, then removed the entire backdrive bell crank assembly...no improvement, retightened everything under the dash...no improvement..finally took it for the 10th test drive loop of the day and noticed that the ringing disappeared when I touched then clutch pedal. AHA! I have you now!

Hung upside down under the dash and noticed that the clutch rod had a washer behind the cotter pin that was just dangling there. Removed it and greased the moving parts. Took her for another test drive...noise still there but slightly less. Came in at around 3000 rpm. Touched the clutch pedal and it went away again.

Pulled her back in the garage and checked the other end of the clutch rod. Yup, another really loose washer behind the cotter pin. Of course this was rather impossible to get to but after loosening up the steel brake line bracketry I was able to access it. Removed that washer and hooked the clutch rod back up. Took her for another ride...noise still there but reduced. Went away, again, when slack in clutch pedal was removed.

Finally, I noticed that the clutch rod still jiggled when mounted up. While there is a hard rubber bushing in the pedal bracket under the dash, the bell crank end in the engine compartment however, is metal to metal. The final fix was to use a thick washer and a Hurst shifter linkage clip instead of a hair pin style clip. The shifter clip applies pressure to take up any slack in the rod. That finally worked...

So it turned out that the tilt steering column wasn't bad, it was just acting like a megaphone, transfering the location of the noise up into the column instead of under the dash. DAMN GREMLINS!!!

Now, to find a new cast iron proportioning/combination valve since I discovered that the original is seeping from the internal o-ring, under pressure. Thankfully, I used silicone fluid so no paint damage. At least I already have the brake lines moved after playing chase the ringing clutch noise, all day.

[427TJ]

Holy cow! So now the tilt goes back in???

[njsteve]

Nah, The car had a non-tilt originally so I'll keep the straight column where it is.