ididit Retrofit Steering Column Tri-Five Chevy User Manual

Steering Column to Steering Box

Installation Instructions

for Tri-Five Chevrolets

FOR PART NUMBER’S: 1120550010, 1120550020, 1120550051,
1070550030, 1070550040, 1120570010, 1120570020, 1120570010,
1070570030, 1070570040, 1140550010, 1140550020, 1140550051,
1150550030, 1150550040, 1160550010, 1160550020, 1160550051,
1140570010, 1140570020, 1140570051, 1150570030, 1150570040,
1160570010, 1160570020, 1160570051

www.ididitinc.com

610 S. Maumee St., Tecumseh, MI 49286
PH: [phone] FAX: [phone]

Instruction # 8000000000 REV 1/14

Thank you for purchasing the Tri-Five Chevy column from ididit.

This is a simple overview of how to mount your column. Any steering

column must be secured at the dash and rewall. This column will use

all the original mounting brackets at the dash. If you are missing parts,
some are available from Ecklers, or Danchuck. Both have web sites to
visit if necessary.

In these instructions we assume either the original gear box or an
aftermarket box are mounted in the original position. Since the gear box

is so close to the rewall, only a coupler (manual) or rag joint (power)

are necessary. If you have done a frame off restoration, the distance
may have changed between the body and the frame. Remember, the
steering column is one of the few parts that relate to both body and
chassis. If the body is placed slightly back from the original position,
you may need to add an inch to the column. We will be happy to

exchange this column (in original condition). We cannot be responsible
for body placement.

If you have added a rack and pinion front end, the installation will

require 2 joints and a shaft to reach the rack. This would be more of

a “hot rod” installation than a restoration. Both are great additions to
updating your steering.

It is highly recommended that you t your column before painting
it. Test tting now will save you a headache later on. We are not

responsible for paint.

1

The Classic Chevy Floor Mount is made up of two pieces:

A.) T-shaped L Bracket
B.) Clamp

The T shaped bracket mounts in the original bolt holes in the inside oor

of your Chevy. The long extension

B.

comes forward toward the driver.
The clamp should slide up the tube
of the steering column. The steer­ing column then slides above the

extension and through the oor

board. The clamp will slide over

A.

the extension of the oor bracket
and around the column. Your col-

umn is now secured to the oor to prevent any movement. Tighten all

fasteners when you are comfortable with the installation.

2

Turn Signal Lever:

The turn signal lever is located closest to the top of the column. With the steering
wheel and adaptor removed, look down at the top of
the column and on the left side you will see a round
screw hole. This secures the lever to the column.
Insert the lever onto the turn signal switch and insert

the provided screw into the screw hole (not D shaped
hole). Use a #2 Phililps screw driver to tighten the

screw until the lever is no longer loose, the screw
will not rub on the brass piece of the white horn cam.

Tilt Lever:

Located directly below the turn signal lever will be the

treaded hole for the tilt lever. Simply screw the tilt lever
into this hole.

Emergency Flasher Knob:

The Emergency asher is threaded into the hole
located on the right side of the column. You will
noticed the plastic portion that the asher screws
into is ush with the outer surface when the ashers
are in the off position. It is easy to accidently turn
the ashers ON while installing which could lead to
problems later. Check to make sure the ashers are in
the OFF position before continuing.

If Column Shift Application:

Place column shift knob onto the shift lever. Once on,
use setscrew (provided) and adjust knob so setscrew
is pointing towards the oor, tighten setscrew. Do not

remove the upper shift lever for any reason! The tension

spring will pop out and it is very difcult to re-install.

Column Shift Linkage Installation:

At the bottom of your column you will notice a lever.
This is the shift lever where your linkage will attach
from the column to the transmission. Note the 5/16
hole through the bushings, most kits use a 5/16 bolt

to secure the rod to the column. Please follow the kit

instructions for the linkage, but make sure that no part
of the kit hits the metal portion of the lever, as it will
create a rattle in the column.

3

Wiring your Column

This ididit steering column uses a standard 3 7/8-inch male connect. However,
some GM columns use a 4 ¼-inch male connector. Connectors do not inter-

change and must be used in pairs. A mate to the 3 7/8 inch plug is available
through ididit. If you need to change this connector for any reason the follow­ing schematic will be helpful.

If you have an Original Wiring Harness and you want 4-way ashers

this information is for you!

All Tri-Five wiring systems are different and each one has different set of plugs.
We have kits available for each year. Follow the specic wiring schematics for
each 4-way kit instructions.

If you have a 1955 Chevy (PN # 3100035775)

The picture to the right depicts what the wire
harness will look like.

If you have a 1956 Chevy (PN # 3100035780)

The picture to the right depicts what the wire
harness will look like.

If you have a 1957 Chevy (PN # 3100035785)

The picture to the right depicts what the wire
harness will look like.

If you have an aftermarket wire harness the 4-way ashers

should already be integrated in the new wiring system.

4

Horn Button Wiring:

A horn may require two wires to properly function
with an ididit column. The center lug on the button
should connect to a horn wire, which is provided by
ididit with your steering column. This horn wire will

slide into the horn cam (white plastic tube sticking up
on the top of the column). If there is a second wire off
to the side it is probably a ground wire (check with
the horn button manufacturer to be sure). This is normally used when an o­ring is used to hold the button in place. The o-ring does not provide sufcient

ground, therefore, an additional wire is provided to ground the horn button. If
there is not a hole in adaptor to ground to, use one of the puller holes with a
short bolt to attach the wire to the adaptor.

Column Shift stock gauge cluster applications: The “Z” wire

The wire between your column and gauge cluster is called the “Z” wire. The
“Z” wire links the column and original dash indicator together to ensure you
are in the correct gear, ididit column shift columns are designed to use this
original piece. At the top of tube on the ididit column you will see a rectan­gular space and what looks to be a hook inside the space, that is where the “Z”
wire hooks to. To hook the “Z” wire to your new ididit column, put the column
in neutral and route the “Z” wire through the hook on the ididit column. The
“Z” wire may need to be shortened or elongated to accurately get the column
and indicator aligned, the best way to do this is to test its function before rein-

stalling the chrome piece on your cluster. Once you have tested the function of

the “Z” wire installed on the column you can continue your installation.

5