I'm having trouble with the tilt mechanisim on a '68. Wheel is locked in the driving position, won't release, won't start. Any experts out there on the tilt assembly? I have shop manual and schematics, getting ready to tear into it this weekend, but could use advice, tips.

 

Does the 68 still have the ignition switch on the dash? if so, then you might have a tilt away steering, and it has a switch on the bottom of the column that disables the starter. So do you mean it wont turn over, or the ignition switch wont turn??

 

The ignition switch is on the dash. This is a car that we've driven every day for the last 3 years. One time before we had trouble, but eventually I found the sweet spot with the wheel and it turned over. Today it was dong the same thing, finally started, but died when it was put in gear, and from then on, can't make contact. The wheel has always swung away when the ignition is off and the door is opened, but today the wheel is staying in the driving position and won't swing away. I can hear the solinoid click when the door switch is depressed.

 

oh, ok. You have the same as my 67 vert. What happened is the linkage is probably stiffened up. So if you want to start it, look under the column, and you see a rod, switch, and vacuum thing. Grab the rod, and push it up back towords the steering wheel. That should start the car, and then push it all the way down, and that should move the wheel.

 

It is definlitly the kill switch at the bottom of the column that is not allowing it to start. Not sure what is keeping it from tilting away. that is most likely a vacuum leak proplem going from the engine through the canister, to the soleniod and on to the vacuum pod by the kill switch.

 

yeah, either a vacuum leak, or the linkage is to stiff, for the vacuum to move it. That is the case on my car. It will move if i give alittle persuasion.

 

Thanks, I'll look closer tomorrow. I can see a cable that connects to the vacuum swith, but don't remember seeing a rod. Vacuum lines all seem to be connected. Doesn't mean there's not a leak.

 

oh, Maybe they changed in the years. Did you ever see an electrical switch by it all?

 

Thanks, tomorrow's another day.