Yes, that is a sad story...and sobering.
Both the National Street Rod Association and the National Hot Rod
Association have safety inspections...then NHRA is much more strict, as
it applies to racing vehicles. If you have a fast vehicle, it wouldn't
hurt to take it to a drag strip (or NSRA event, but NSRA is limited to
1948 and older vehicles) and get it inspected, they might find a serious
problem that you can fix and save your life.
The GM columns that came with an automatic shifter will NOT lock the
wheel when you turn off the key...IF you leave the shift linkage
connected to the tranny! You have to shift into park before it will let
you turn the key far enough to lock the wheel. What often happens,
though, is that folks use these columns in cars with floor shifters, and
disable the interlock feature (by leaving the shift collar in the park
position). In GM vehicles that came with a floor shifter, GM either had
a linkage connecting the column to the tranny linkage to prevent this
problem, or they had a release lever that you have to push to be able to
turn the key all the way off and lock the wheel. Something to check on
your truck if you have a locking steering column!
Jim F
Big Block 59s in AZ
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