Christmas night some jerks broke into my car and tore up the top of the steering column in an attempt to steal the car. Luckily, my neighbor scared them off, but they damaged the column so the car can't start or obviously drive. Checking out the local junkyard I found a 91 Firebird with a pretty clean column equipped with the airbag like mine. Mine's a 5speed and this ones an Automatic. Should it work fine for me? I noticed the Bird column has a cable going to a part of the switch down the column that starts the car. Will this one work, or will I need to swap it out with the one on my original column? Appreciate any help from those of you who know about this stuff, uncharted territory for me. TGO sure has helped me keep my Camaro running and working well. Thanks to you all and have a great New Year!! Henry Davis

 

you will need the key from the new column so you can get a blank key matching your old one and have it cut to fit the new column.

 

I'm not worried about the ignition keys being matched up or anything, I'm just wondering about the column matching. I figured they all interchange but was not to sure about an automatic column in a 5speed car and whether the starting switch down the column would work or need to be switched. I'll probably just go get it and match it up to mine when I get it out. Something tells me it's always easier to take one out than put it back in right. Thanks for your response

 

I would imagine that the steering column from the automatic equipped donor car should work just fine. The only difference that I can think of is the cable that connects the steering column to the shifter and locks the shifter when the car is turned off. Many people swap their transmissions from auto to manual and vice-versa, and I've never heard of anyone swapping the steering column to make either setup function properly.

 

I'm almost certain that the steering wheel column for Auto & Manual trans were the same for 90-91.The earlier 84-89 years had the different ones.
check this pdf,it shows that their the same.http://www.kt-s.net/media/1982-1992_...ember_1992.pdf

 

Sounds like I would want to ensure your VATS stays functional.

 

The earlier ones where different? Thas a first ive heard of that. i thought they where all the same. Whats the difference?

 

Manual cars have a lock lever to remove the key. Some sort of safety thing.

 

If thats are they got Im swaping mine out as that lock is a pain in the ***

 

That cable your talking about I think it's the Neutral Safety Switch for the auto.trans.it should run from the column to the console to the auto. shifter.I don't think you need that with the manual shift.

 

I cut mine off when I went to manual off my old column till I went with the column I have now which is a manual one and all I wanted it for was the stock GM keys. That lock thats on it is such a pain too im swapping back to a auto column

 

Well thanks, that's encouraging. I had to yank pretty hard several times to get it out. Is it going to just slide back in the coupling or will I have do something to make it go back in? Thanks again, Henry

 

Should slide back in with no problem.I got lucky,mine slid right in to place.If your not sure,maybe you should have someone guide it while your fitting it in.

 

Cool! Thanks

 

while you have the column out look into the chevy astro van shaft upgrade on this site .good time to do it if you want more responsive steering. you can get one from the bone yard for 10 bucks and replace that old rag joint shaft.

 

Im doin that right now but none of the yards up here have vans for some stupid reason. I figure its cause its worth more to scrap them for the metal then to take up space trying to part them. Im getting one made from a TGO member instead as its just easier that way for me at the moment

 

Thanks for the advice. Swap done and everything works as it should. Turned out to be easier than expected. It was a little tricky doing it myself but not all that hard just took a little time. Anyone could do this if needed! Finding the right column in good shape was the lucky part