jdracing

i am new to this group and enjoy all the info very much.
now i need some help please.
i have just bought an 89 rs camaro with 113,000 miles.
really nice car but the owner before had problems with steering column.
they bought another column and for some weird reason tossed the old one in the landfield i guess.

anyway,i got a very nice firebird column today for a good deal.
it has all the options.
i am wondering if it can be swapped into my camaro?
i am not certain of the model but it is 3rd. generation.
i know you can override the vat system on the 89 camaros,but can you swap out the column for a firebird?
i have factory key for both column if that helps.

thanks to all who can help.
will try to get some pictures of my cars later on.

thanks again,
jd

dpmechanic

yes the column should swap, as far as the key and vats, you can have a key made. need to have resiter pellet from old one but cut to the new one..

jdracing

dpmechanic,is this still ok even if it isn't an 89 column?
possibly 84-up?
thanks for reply,
jd
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dpmechanic,is this ok that the column may not be an 89 model?
thanks,
jd

dpmechanic

88-92 have the passkey 11, earlier columns are the same, but they do have a differnt ingnition cylnder. if your new column has the connection for vats it will work, if not you'll have to change out the ignition cylnder to a 88-92, or use the one you have and bypass vats. You have the old key so it would be easy to bypass, you just measure the ohms on the old resister pellet and solder it into the harness..

91camaro454

just change the ign switch from the old column to the new one and keep your key without the cost .the part number for the firebird switch and camaro are the same .

jdracing

i don't have the original column,only the key.
for some reason the trashed the old one.
now what?
the simpliest way as far as cost?
thanks all,
jd
p.s.also gonna need a steering wheel.
anybody out here got one?
don't like the pontiac wheel on my chevy.
won't look right.
know what i mean?

dpmechanic

cheapist way is to use key you got with column, ohm out old key, by a 50 cent resistor at radio shack and solder it in to bypass vats.. if you can solder it all you have to pay for is the 50 cent resistor

jdracing

dp,ok on the solder since i play around with 32nd. scale slot racing in my basement.
i like to build chassis from brass tube.
i also have an ohm meter but am not sure exactly how to
ohm out old key if you can give me some heads up there?
thanks by the way.
also what type resistor i need from radio shack?
they have several diffrent types.you all have been a great help to me.
i am out of work now and could really use the extra
cash i will be saving.
i got a really great deal on the car too so that helped.
i can hear it run for about 5 or 10 seconds at a time.
i also remember the car before the old column broke on
the car.
yeah just need some explaining on how to read the keys rating and type resistor to buy?
i hope i can quit bothering you guys afterwards.
i know i am probably being a pain,
jd

p.s.this is my first camaro newer than 72 so they are alot diffrent for sure.

dpmechanic

First if you just search the web for vats bypass theres a ton of sights that explain it all, and they give the chart with the 15 pellet values.. all you have to do is set ohm meter to 20k touch each side of the chip in the key one pos one neg and read the value. the pellet value has a little leeway so it doesn't have to be dead on exact, but get a resistor that has the closes to the measued value..... then on the car theres a two wire pigtail that has an orange wrap on it you just clip connector and solder the resistor inbetween them.. good luck

jdracing

i found this site looking for vats override.
i pretty well have it all now except the type resistor to get.
i guess maybe the guys at radio shack will know.
reason i asked what type resistor was because i buy them now from rs.
i use them in my slotcar controllers,etc.
but there are diffrent types as i found out the first time i went searching
radio shack for one.
i hopefully will figure it out now.

this group has been a great help and hopefully saved me some cash as i stated earlier that my job situation is not at the moment.
hope the new leader of the country can do something more than has been done lately.

i may be interested in selling this car when it is finished.
all i hope to need now is a set of rs,or z wheels.
it has centerlines on it now and they don't look good on this type car
in my opinion.
especially when car is solid white.
i like the stock look better anyway.
anyone got an extra set of wheels out there?
jd

jdracing

do you think it would be ok to wash this firebird column with super clean(purple stuff)?
can it mess up any of the boxes,etc. to wash it like this?
thought about spraying with purple stuff and brushing with soapy water and rinse with water hose.
is that ok,or not?
first camaro i have owned past 73.
thanks,
jd