ididit column

[Calvin Gunter]

Do any of you have the retro fit tilt column from ididit?If so how do you like it?How did it fit? How much does it cost?I just got off of their website and it looks like a nice piece.I ordered a catalog and asked about the price but they haven't responded yet.TIA,Calvin

[69bumptruck]

Be prepared for sticker shock! The one I priced was well over $400.00!

[Calvin Gunter]

That's not as bad as one I looked into at the Charlotte AutoFair.The vendor is getting 650 and up and you have to turn in your column for a core first.So I guess you get someone else's rebuilt column not a new one.Just shopping around and researching before I tear it completely apart.I do like the bolt in idea though.Is the Flaming River a direct bolt in or is it universal? TIA,Calvin

[Calvin Gunter]

Well I got a reply today and it ain't pretty.Paintable steel is $638.89,brushed or polished steel is $1133.33.They didn't give me a price for the rag joint or the shift indicator so I e-mailed him back but I haven't gotten a reply yet.So I guess I'll be going with the painted steel when the time comes.But I do want a new one and I do want a direct bolt in so I may have to just suck it up when the time comes.Any one have any input on the Flaming River column?Do they have a bolt in for our trucks?

[ford7379trucks]

wow there like $350 on ebay

[71 LONG BED]

I don't understand what makes them so expensive. You still need to buy a steering wheel, too! It's a tube with some bearings in it. I realize it is a little more than that, but not much. $630.00 for steel!? I just don't get it...

[cathynkeith]

I got one, love it, fit great easy install but the wiring is gm. I paid alot, rag joint and indicator are expensive, with wheel I have over $1300.00 in mine polished and shinny. Would Idoididit again.......no. oops maybe I could shave my head, check into rehab, check out of rehab then into rehab then ??????????? I refuse to show my tutu though, wife would get mad.

[CA180]

^ ??????????? ^

[71 LONG BED]

What happened to that post? The first time I read it, it ended with "Would Idoididit again.......no."

[jbanks]

Hit me baby one more time.....

[cathynkeith]

I got that stupid song in my head and edited the post

[cathynkeith]

Hit me baby one more time.....

Sombody needs to hit her up side the head

[390Nut]

Hit me baby one more time.....

Sombody needs to hit her up side the head

I think someone already did.

50% of what you are paying for when you buy an ididit or flaming river column is the name. if you GOTTA have it, it's gonna cost you lots just to say you've got an expensive shiny custom steering column.

They're made for the custom hotrod and roadster showcar crowd, not the restorer or driver crowd, and the price reflects that to a degree. BLING costs money.

[Calvin Gunter]

Ok got another e-mail from ididit today and the rest of the parts needed are, rag joint $90,female plug in for the truck harness $12,chrome shift indicator $100.So if I go with the painted column the total cost would be $840.89 which is pretty bad but it's what I want so I guess I just have to suck it up.But on a good note I already have a really nice Grant signature series steering wheel that I won at a car show so the only other thing to buy is the adapter for my wheel to their column,probably another $50.Oh well you wanna play ya gotta pay right.Still want to know more about the Flaming River column if anyone has installed one.TIA,Calvin

[Buckinthebowtie]

I put an ididit column in my '68 and I have to say that it almost coudn't have been easier! I wanted to used the stock column and mate it to the rack and pinion on the MII front end, but I don't know if I've ever seen a column that was worn out as badly as the stock one! I honestly don't think there's was a single usable piece left.
As far as price goes I think the fair way to look at it is what would a professional shop charge to rebuild the stock one? All the shops I've worked in have rate of $60 bucks an hour, plus parts, plus down time and all that. Everything is a trade off and you pay for it one way or the other.
I know many of us don't think like that because we do the work ourselves, but we're the minority. And even if you don't do much of your own work or aren't too handy, you should be able to put the ididit column in. I prefere the look of a stock column any day of the week, but I was under the gun and it sure made it quick and easy.
I don't think it would be too hard to retrofit a good junkyard column, Ford or Chevy for the budget minded that have the time.
See the April '07 issue of Classic Trucks for my ididit install.