Need help with column movement problems!!

[bigboymattyg]

Hey guys, this is my first post to this forum. I have a 1980 Buick Century Sedan. When I am leaving from a complete stop and I hit the gas like normal, the column where the shifter is located will move up 2 or 3 inches. What would cause that? Is it something I need to be concerned about? I noticed also that when the column moves up like that so does the gear indicator in the instrument panel.

SOMEONE PLEASE HELP!!

[richtazz]

welcome to AF. Do you mean the column moves up and down, or does the shifter move around the column as if you were manually changing gears?

If it's up and down, I would check to see if the bolts that secure the steering column to the underside of the dash are tight.

If it's around, I would check your drivers side motor mount. That is the torque side, and when they fail, it will allow the engine to lift. If this is the case, you need to get it replaced asap!

[bigboymattyg]

Yes, its the piece around the column with the shifter attached to it. The motor mount would make sense because I suspected it was a transmission mount.

I will look at the torque side of the motor...

What should I look for? I know what a motor mount looks like, but would it be broken or cracked?

Thanks for your help!

[richtazz]

the motor mount would be a rubber block, surrounded by metal, bolted to each side of the engine, then to the front cross member (the piece that goes side to side between the frame rails and under the motor. It may be hard to see if it's damaged without attempting to lift the engine with a LARGE prybar. There should be little to no perceivable movement.