Chevy & GMC Vans

So, I am in the process of making my respective vehicles ready to drive before I get my license back in July. I have a few things left to do on my pickup and a couple left on the van. The biggest issue on the van right now is the steering column. When I bought the van the previous owner said she had broken the tilt mechanism in the column by trying to force a steering wheel cover onto the wheel. I have tried to tighten all visible fasteners and have found them all to be within spec. I had a feeling that the problem was internal and am now pretty sure I was right. My Service manual troubleshoots it like this...

"Steering column will not lock in any position= 1) Lock shoe grooves have dirt or burrs. 2) Lock shoe spring is weak or broken. 3) Lock shoe seized on its pivot point."

My problem is that I don't want to spend a ton of money to fix it and I lack the tools I think I will need. The service book calls for a steering wheel puller and a couple other specialty tools I don't own. I have pulled a couple complete columns out of these vans years ago and don't remember it being too hard and I have also found a couple write-ups here on the forum (thanks guys!) to help if I get stuck. I am thinking it will be easier/cheaper to locate a whole new column somewhere and just swap it over than to try to mess with all the little bits and pieces inside the column.

So my questions are as follows=
1) Does this sound like the path of least resistance or is there an easier way to go about it? Does anyone have an approximate dealer cost to fix this?
2) Anyone got a line on a good tilt column that will fit an 88? Van has tilt, automatic, cruise control. If I can't find one here I will just keep looking locally.
3) Most importantly, What years will interchange? I have a hunch that any non-airbag column will interchange (85-94??) but will admit I am just guessing.

Thanks for any advice you are able to offer.

-Riley

A 1989 fit my Ole Yellar van which is a 1985,so yes the earlier ones fit,but I think the earlier ones don't have all the stuff the later ones do.

Here is the link for the swap I did:

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=2672&p=26806&hilit= ... ing#p26806

My 1993 has a column from a 1986 in it, and I agree, swapping out the entire column is easier than dissassembling one, repairing, and reassembling. I've done it a couple on times, and have all of the pullers, etc, and would still rather swap the entire column if there's one readily available than repair one.

I think the trick is to find one with the same options, like tilt, cruise, delay wipers, etc.

I'm not coming off of my manual trans column though. I'd repair it.

If you need to convince yourself that Gary and Roy are right, do a search for my post on the wobbley steering wheel. Yanking the whole thing will take less time than tearing it down, and you are correct, you would need a few special tools.

OK guys, thanks a lot for the info. I found a column in Olympia that should work...now its just a matter of getting it. I think I will pull out the old one in a couple days so I can bring it to match up to whatever one I find.