Shift Tube Comparison

[ThinLizzy13]

I pulled the steering column on my '63 to rebuild it and get rid of the slop. I'd like to say thanks to shipwrecked for the video or her column disassembly, it was really helpful
I'm thinking I'm missing a piece on my shift tube, but I haven't been able to find a good picture of a pre-65 tube. In the pic the top tube is my 63's and the bottom tube is from a 65. Am I supposed to have that piece on my 63?

[6166 Junkyard Dog]

both shift tubes needs that piece at the top for reason your shifter arm goes through that part at the top and that tab is stronger that the shift tube,, also go to the auto parts with your shifter handle and get a o-ring to slide over the end so metal against metal does not rub, I got a nos shifter handle and it had a small type of a o-ring to prevent metal against metal at the shift tube point at the tab part

[ThinLizzy13]

Thanks for the help Tom. I'm going to try to make a tab like that to weld on. I'll make sure I get an O-ring. My tube was pretty ate up.

[oldsmiley]

Happened to see this and thought this might help down the road. Out of 34 years of building these columns comes a little bit of preventive maintenance. Those 2 little factory spot welds (whether it's made in the U.S. or China) rarely hold up very long, as you can see from yours being gone. Nearly every column I've ever done needed a shift tube (why they discontinued them I'll never understand). Since you can't weld down the side of the top tab, I always put a security weld across the bottom of the tab (and grind it off on both edges so the collar will still slide on).

Also since the square nub at the bottom is held on with only 2 spot welds (they don't give as much problems) but now and then they can also turn loose. I normally go inside at the bottom and put a nice smooth little bead (a little tricky, but nothing thick) to make sure I don't ever have to pull it apart again and do something over, that I can do the first time.

I only have one life, and if I had to do everything in life 3 times, 2/3rds of my time would be wasted.....

[ThinLizzy13]

Thanks for the tips and pics smiley! I’m going to do exactly as you suggested.