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Thread: GM column connector

  1. #1
    Registered Member chevynut's Avatar
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    GM column connector

    Why did GM use such a huge, ugly column connector for only 8 wires? The thing is like 4 1/2" long and the FR column has a foot of extra "ribbon" cable coming out of it. What are you supposed to do with all that cable? Trying to keep thing neat and orderly, and this stuff makes it harder to do.






    56 Nomad, Ramjet 502, Viper 6-speed T56, C4 Corvette front and rear suspension


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    56 Chevy 2-door BelAir sedan
    56 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
    57 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
    1962 327/340HP Corvette
    1961 Willys CJ3B Jeep
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    2019 GMC Sierra Denali Duramax

  2. #2
    Registered Member Troy's Avatar
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    Cnut,

    They did it to drive you crazy!!!!LOL

  3. #3
    Registered Member WagonCrazy's Avatar
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    Agreed. It's unnecessarily bulky. But once you get it put together, it sits up under the dash so you'll soon forget about it...
    1957 Nomad- LS1/T56 on C4 chassis
    1959 Fleetside Apache 1/2 ton, shortbed, big window, 327ci.

  4. #4
    Registered Member chevynut's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by WagonCrazy View Post
    Agreed. It's unnecessarily bulky. But once you get it put together, it sits up under the dash so you'll soon forget about it...
    You're probably right but I want to do something with the excess cable. I might zip tie it to the column to keep it from flopping around. Right now I'm wiring it up and I still have to paint it, when I decide what color....probably charcoal since my dash is charcoal. I got the mill finished stainless column and don't really want to polish it.

    Next challenge is how to paint a tilt column so there aren't any unpainted areas when I tilt it? Looks like you would need to tilt it all the way one direction and paint it, then tilt it the other direction and paint that area. Plus everything has to be masked off. None of this is easy.
    56 Nomad, Ramjet 502, Viper 6-speed T56, C4 Corvette front and rear suspension


    Other vehicles:

    56 Chevy 2-door BelAir sedan
    56 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
    57 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
    1962 327/340HP Corvette
    1961 Willys CJ3B Jeep
    2001 Porsche Boxster S
    2003 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD Duramax
    2019 GMC Sierra Denali Duramax

  5. #5
    Registered Member chevynut's Avatar
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    I ended up cutting off the over-hanging, unused 1" of that stupid connector, and zip-tying the excess ribbon cable to the top of the column. That makes the connector somewhat smaller and it fits under the dash better. Finishing up the wiring to the turn signal connector and cruise control connector now, then the column comes out for paint.
    56 Nomad, Ramjet 502, Viper 6-speed T56, C4 Corvette front and rear suspension


    Other vehicles:

    56 Chevy 2-door BelAir sedan
    56 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
    57 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
    1962 327/340HP Corvette
    1961 Willys CJ3B Jeep
    2001 Porsche Boxster S
    2003 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD Duramax
    2019 GMC Sierra Denali Duramax

  6. #6
    Registered Member Custer55's Avatar
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    [QUOTE
    Next challenge is how to paint a tilt column so there aren't any unpainted areas when I tilt it? Looks like you would need to tilt it all the way one direction and paint it, then tilt it the other direction and paint that area. Plus everything has to be masked off. None of this is easy. [/QUOTE]

    I had mine apart to modify the column so I painted a couple coats on everything while it was still apart, then put it all together, then sanded out the inevitable paint chips and put on another couple coats. If your going to leave it together to paint I would do it as you described. If you know how you want the tilt head positioned when you drive it have it in that position for you final paint coats so everything will look nice in your normal driving position.

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