Steering column

so I have a brand new(well rebuilt) automatic/tilt steering column. I bought it late 2003 for 295.00. I finally got to put it in 3 months ago. Well I decided to go to buckets and a floor shift.

I called the company up and asked if I could exchange the column for one without the shifter in it. I would pay shipping both ways and the difference.

They said they they could convert the column I have for 190.00 plus shipping.
But could not exchange.

I said that didn't make any sense to me due to the fact that it is still a new column. The car is not road worthy. It has been sitting in the box they sent me until 3 months ago.

Then the guy asks me if I would go to Sears and return something that was 3 years old.

I said yes its called craftman life time warranty. And lifetime customer service.

I then said I have returned parts to classic Industries just last week that was 4 years old and they took 25% restocking fee and all was good.

So needless to say I need to sell my column and buy one without the shifter.

Just needed to vent

Thanks

If you are like me, you have a full project on your hands (1-3 yrs). I plan ahead the best I can and buy things for future installation and when funds are available. I have boxes of Summit, CPP and other parts that have been sitting on the shelf for months. These are classic car companies and they should understand that things do not get installed everytime in 30 days or less. I just sent some stuff back to Summit that was that was almost 2 years old due to a change in idea. They were cool and charged me a restock and shipping but no where near a total loss. New is still new and most of us are willing to take a small knock on the head for the change of mind or situation. You are right the company that helps the customer will always succeed because we dont mind telling our friends how cool they are to work with.

:chev::beer:

You could always modify the one you have. I seem to find more column shift tilt columns than the others and what I have done using what I have already is to knock out the pivot pin for the shifter handle and it pulls right out. What you are left with is the nub and while you could leave it that way you can make it look even better. By cutting off the nub flush with the collor you will be left with a small square hole. I then roughen up the hole with a burr bit and then mix up some 5 minute epoxy gell and fill the hole just enough to close it up and not so much as to interfere with the spring and rod inside that the column shift lever was connected to. I then let it cure and then sand it down. I then sand the whole collar and then apply a sandable primer over it. Once the primer dries I sand it down and check for flaws and if none, shoot a color coat over it. Once it's all done it's very hard to tell it was ever a column shifted column.
You could also replace the collar but it would require some disassembly of the column to do so and there might be some specialized tools required. I've never taken one fully apart but it might be an easy swap doing it that way.
Jim