Steering Column Repair: 1980 chevy calum, negative terminal, steering column

Question
i put i in drive and the lighs dim if you move the shifter they get briter how do i fix this problem

Answer
Hi Brian:
It sounds like you are missing a good body ground and the lightingl system is actually grounding itself through the shifter.  I would recommend you make a ground strap that runs from the negative terminal of the battery to the body (side of the fender) and another one that runs from the body near the hood hinge, to the engine itself.  That way, everything electrical has a path to return current to the battery properly and complete the circuits through the new wires, rather than through the steering column or shifter.

Good luck
Doug