While it’s not the worst we’ve...
While it’s not the worst we’ve seen, we just can’t stand how out of place the pedestrian two-bar steering wheel looked against the gorgeous gauges we created in Auto Meter’s Custom Shop. It really kills the clean, muscular look. Before removing anything, make sure the front wheels point straight. We have other issues to address in our steering system, so the steering wheel did not end up level.
We’re firm believers in doing things the right way, and all the way. For example, if you decide to swap your column shift automatic (or manual for that matter) over to floor shift like we did with our project car ’77 Chevy Nova (Mar. ’12), you can’t just leave the original column shifter in place. The floor shift conversion will just never look legit with the telltale shifter boss on the column, and unfortunately there’s just no good way to hide it. You have to complete the illusion.
Even if you just yank the handle and leave the ugly shifter bump as we were forced to do on our ’68 Nova project car (no one makes a column for ’68 model Novas), other problems can arise, such as the collar rotating from vibration and telling the stock Neutral safety switch that the car is in gear and not allowing the engine to crank. So then you have to unplug that harness. Starting to feel a bit cobbled isn’t it? We’re just not OK with stuff like that distracting from the hard work and good parts we’ve installed so far.
Of course new factory-style columns aren’t offered for fourth-gen Novas, but thanks to ididit, direct bolt-in columns are now offered for second-gen Camaros and Firebirds, which is nearly a direct bolt-in for the later Novas. These ’70-75 second-gen F-body columns (PN 1620860051, $793.62) are collapsible like original for safety, and you also get the ergonomic benefit of eight-position tilt. That’s one of the most underappreciated niceties in late-model cars that we miss in our vintage projects.
Since ididit designed these new columns as a direct-fit kit rather than a universal style, the wiring harness is all plug-and-play. The guys at ididit even made sure to use an original-style ignition switch with the correct clocking, so odds are no one will even notice it’s not a restored factory part. For maximum stealth on our ’77 Nova install, we opted for the black powdercoat version, but the columns are also available in bare steel and chrome-plated finishes.
Yes, that is a Budweiser beer...
Yes, that is a Budweiser beer tap topping the column shifter in the EcoNova. Kinda fun, but it does tend to raise the eyebrows of Johnny Law if you get pulled over. Even if we removed it though, we’d still be stuck with the telltale mounting boss. Also note the band of electrical tape wrapped around the column hiding some as yet unknown damage.
To remove the old column it...
To remove the old column it must first be detached from the intermediate shaft that connects it to the steering box. One bolt traps the splined end of the column in this clamp. Removing it will allow the column to slide out once the interior mounts are taken loose, though the clamp may require a little prying to relieve pressure.
We removed our column shift...
We removed our column shift linkage when we installed the horseshoe-style shifter from YearOne, but if yours is still connected it’ll need to be removed in order for the column to slide out.
On the firewall under the...
On the firewall under the dash the column mounting plate is held by four screws.
With the firewall plate loose,...
With the firewall plate loose, the only thing left holding the column in place is the underdash mount. The two large outer nuts are the ones to take loose; we’ll be removing the mount itself once the column is out. It’s a good idea to make locating marks on the aluminum isolation pads to ensure the new column ends up in the same spot.
Once the underdash mount is...
Once the underdash mount is loose, the whole column is ready to drop down. Before it will slide out though, the relay pack and Neutral safety switch need to be disconnected. If you’re also working on a fourth-gen Nova, be cautious with the firewall mount since there is a gasket behind it that can be reused if it’s in good shape.
GM spot-welded the firewall...
GM spot-welded the firewall mount to the column in three spots, so to reuse it they will need to be drilled out. Once it’s loose, the column shifter linkage will need to be cut off as well so the mount can slide off.
If you’re working on an F-body,...
If you’re working on an F-body, ididit has you covered with their new replacement floor mount and gasket, but it’s unfortunately the wrong shape for the EcoNova. We will be using the clamp that’s included with the kit, however.
Laid next to one another,...
Laid next to one another, the two columns are dimensionally identical, though the ididit column is obviously a much nicer built piece. We discovered that the electrical tape on the original column was hiding a badly broken lower sleeve—one more good reason to replace it!
We had assumed that second-gen...
We had assumed that second-gen F-bodies and fourth-gen X-bodies would have the same intermediate shaft since the columns were the same, but the intermediate shaft in the ’77 Nova has a wide locating spline that’s 180 degrees from the notch the securing bolt slides through. We used a Dremel tool and a thin grinding disc to remove one spline from the ididit column. Problem solved.
To secure the original firewall...
To secure the original firewall mount to the ididit column we could have spot-welded it using the original weld location that we drilled out, but we opted to use ididit’s clamp from the F-body kit since it offered a simple solution that worked perfectly well. We were also able to reuse the original gasket since it came out without tearing and was in good shape.
The ’70-74 Novas used a 3.875-inch...
The ’70-74 Novas used a 3.875-inch flat plug for the turn signal connection, but ’75-and-later cars used a 4.5-inch one. These are very easy to switch by using a small screwdriver to depress the tang that retains the wire in the clip. The terminals (letters P through G) are exactly the same and will match color for color to the plug under the dash.
While the original GM column...
While the original GM column uses a special relay pack attached to the column, ididit uses reliable standard relays with a cool adapter harness from American Autowire.
Under the dash, the wires...
Under the dash, the wires that were unplugged when the original column was dropped are removed from the plugs just like the turn signal wires previously. The American Autowire harness is color keyed to the original wires for simplicity; there will be a few unnecessary wires for the factory idiot lights. Also noteworthy: The ididit column does not have a provision for a Neutral safety switch since it is not a column shift style. Those wires should be connected to a switch on your floor shifter.
Ididit includes new emergency...
Ididit includes new emergency flashers, turn signal, and tilt levers with the column that look like better versions of the factory stuff. The tilt and emergency levers screw in while the turn signal lever is locked into the turn signal cam with a single screw.
If you’re fond of your factory...
If you’re fond of your factory Camaro or Firebird steering wheel, it’ll bolt right on. We never even considered putting the ugly factory Nova steering wheel on our sweet new column, so we ordered a new custom wheel and GM column adapter kit from Summit Racing (steering wheel, PN SUM-772712, $139.95; install kit PN SUM-772800, $32.95). With the wheel screwed to the adapter, the center retaining nut gets torqued to 45 ft-lb.
The ididit column uses a far...
The ididit column uses a far more reliable twist-in–style locking retainer for the horn pin. Otherwise, it assembles just like the original with the spring inserted first; it connects to the Summit Racing horn button with a preterminated wire.
This really was the missing...
This really was the missing piece that pulls everything together. We also love the fact that the Summit Racing split-spoke wheel matches our YearOne horseshoe shifter as well. Plus, we now have a much faster 14-inch diameter wheel.
Of course, a new column comes...
Of course, a new column comes with new keys, and ididit is nice enough to include two as well as the GM key code that can be used to have new keys cut should they both somehow get lost. Ours was intentionally altered for print, of course.