The Checker Taxi Stand

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I seem to remember reading or being told which Chevy lower steering shaft was the same as (or very close to) the one on my 1980 Cab....
Checker #707122 . As anyone got the GM number or know which will fit?

john_w · Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2005 4:16 pm Post subject:

I don't KNOW any steering columns that will fit since I've never done a swap or repair on the steering column.

Somewhere on the steering column should be a GM number; if you can find it you should be in business.

Most likely Checker used the columns from the full sized passenger cars since all the mid-size and small GM cars had the gear shifts on the floor.

Assuming Checker used 1979 or 1980 GM steering columns, my best GUESS from an 1984 Hollander Interchange manual (which does not list Checker) is as follows:

tilt steering column

Hollander # 444
GM 7836005, 7831064

fixed steering column

Hollander # 447

GM 783067

The above two sets of numbers are for 1980 (or so) full size GM passenger cars.

All I can say is look at one of those, if you can still find one in a junk yard. Last year most the local junk yards cleaned out everything older than about 1995. If it doesn't match, try the Chevy/GMC pickups the same year since they were different numbers (Hollander 439/440, GM 7831658/7831675).

If anyone has better information than my guess, please post it.

Also, if you get it figured out, please post back what actually fit so we will know in the future.

John W

Guest · Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2005 5:38 pm Post subject:

John,
The Checker lower shaft has the same ends as my 81 Caprice, but is different length. I wish I could remember.......Malibu??? Monte Carlo???
Confused

john_w · Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2005 6:33 pm Post subject:

Was just looking in the 78 Parts manual for forward steer, which is what the 80 should be, and it says Checker part # 707012 ... which still doesn't get us anywhere because I don't have a cooresponding OEM part number.

Maybe what you want to be looking at is the Omega / Skylark (aka former Nova) combination. If the Caprice is too long, I'd guess the short nosed Omega instead of the Monte Carle / Cutlass / Lemans body which also had a long nose.

FYI: Auto Zone classifies the lower shaft as "Extension - Sterring shaft" but they just say unavailable.

If you can't figure it out, try calling Joe Pollard. He might know or his supplier might know.

If you want to swap other steering column numbers, email me off list and we'll trade numbers until you find a fit or give up ...

John W
jweinhoeft<@>checkercarclub.org

checkerlee · Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2005 8:25 am Post subject:

Hey everyone,

I have stripped 4 Checkers from the mid to late 70s with a salvage friend of mine. He has been in salvage for 35 years. He has commented on a number of occasions that the column is a Chevy S10 pick-up truck column. He also noted that it looks very much like the same column used in the Malibu.

Just his observation with no part numbers to confirm. This may be helpful though in sussing out the correct part.

I bet Joe Pollard must have some idea as to what you need as I think he has told me he has some parts cars from the later years.

Hope this helps,

Doug Lee
68 Marathon, 65 A11
_________________
Doug Lee

john_w · Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 8:05 am Post subject:

Anybody ever figure out a GM cross of the steering column?