Steering Column Problems

I just got a 1968  Chev. C-10 and the only thing I really need to fix is the turn signals. There are no wires dropped from the steering column but there are complete sets of wires going to the turn signal fixtures. The switch seems to work. How difficult would it be to replace the wires and maybe the switch in this situation?
Pulling the steering wheel is no problem but not certain about doing this repair myself.    

straight or tilt column..


either way its key on the dash board..


lets say you have a non tilt column..

this is the turn signal switch...



i just replaced this on a 71 Gmc 2500...  


Make sure the front wheels are STRAIGHT and the steering wheel is straight..

pull wheel...

take the cover off the bottom of the dash ...     reach in and disconnect the turn signal switch.. its usually tucked in just to the left of the column...        

there are two 9/16 head bolts to loosen to drop the column...

there is a rubber sleeve on the column tube.. that has to stay but you can slide it up and down..

there are several screws.. holding the turn signal switch down..   it gets lifted slightly.. usually the strip under the column has to come out..  it slips one way..   then you have to free it from the rubber ring..

the upper part of the column comes off.. weirdly.. it kinda twists.. and then pulls upwards..   comes off like you are taking a tail light bulb out of its socket..

the screws keep it from rotating and clamp the parts in place on the column tube..

you will find that you need to separate a few inches of the harness ribbon cable at the switch itself.. as the wires have to be tucked in to clips on the switch to allow it to seat properly..


warnings when you take the sections off the top of the column.. the shifter assembly can slide up and out of the shift lever at the bottom of the column...


now i am kicking my self for not snapping some images...  it took me almost an hour to change the switch.. but i change a lot of them... not on these straight columns..




you DO NOT have to knock out the shifter lever pin...