I did the 5 speed swap. Swapping cyls doesn't look too hard, and I want the details to be correct. Can I just swap the cylinder?

The manual cars have the button on the cyl. that needs to be depressed for the key to be removed. I've tried a few parts stores, they only have the automatic style.

Is my only option the $$$dealer$$$?

Also, I know the ignition switch is different between manual and auto cars, is the only difference that the auto switch has a provision for the lock cable?

Thank you

 

From both of the manual thirdgen cars I've had, the button is part of the steering column. It is actually more of a lever than a button, and sticks out from between the two tilting parts of the column. You may want to look for a sttering column from a manual car.

 

What years were they?

I had a 1991 Camaro RS with the LO3/T-5, and the column looked the same as auto cars, but the cyl had the button on the face of the cyl itself. I thought this was really weird since all other 5 spd cars (i.e. other makes/models) I've ever seen/owned had it like you describe, on the column itself. It is the only thirdgen I have driven with a manual, so I thought they were all this way.

Those with factory manual transmissions--what was yours like? I have a feeling this may be more complicated than I thought, especially if there are several styles of manual trans columns.

 

One car was an '86 and the other was an '88. Good point about the different years, I blindly assumed that a thirdgen column is a thirdgen column. Good luck either way, but I'm still thinking that a trip to the junkyard would clear up some issues.

 

Hey, I blindly assumed they were all like mine too.

You're right though, some investigation is definitely in order--I was hoping to stay away from used parts however. Doing this might be more trouble than its worth, since a used column might have troubles and parts seem to be harder to come by.

 

I needed a column rebuilt since the tilting part was all messed up a while back. I wound up getting one from a place called columns galore... don't use them, they sent me a really bad column that didn't seem to be rebuilt. The other place is called Epire Steering Columns. Both are in CA I think. They might be able to help you out with some quality parts, but don't hold me to that. I think this is there website, but it isn't working. The number on the receipt is (909) 421-8647.

www.empiresteering.com/

 

Thanks, I'll give them a call.