Trouble finding Steering Column Cover for 2000 GMC Sierra 1500

[JasperIam]

Bought a decent 2000 GMC Sierra 1500 from the auction house a while back. Has 200K miles, but no rust. Looks like someone jacked with the steering column as the plastic was all busted up. I think it might have even been stolen once since the ignition is a little jacked up and no factory keys.

 

Anyway, I got online and ordered a new plastic cover. It didn't fit and when i pulled the old cover off, it had a number (9) on the inside and new one was different, don't recall the number. It wouldn't fit. Looking around some more, i'm not sure my truck has tilt. There is no handle for tilt, but a hole in the cover, so assumed that was something else just messed with, but maybe not. I thought this go around I would just get one made for truck without tilt, but can't seem to find any that have the number 9 on the inside. Also has a number of 26061832 - but that shows up as S-10 on my searches.

 

Anyone have any thoughts on where to get one?

 

Another question i have is on the tranny. If you drive it nice and slow, no issues. However, if you are hard on the gas, when it shift into 2nd, it will "grind", tho i don't think that is the correct term. If you just let off the gas for a second, you can then take off again. Once you get past the shift, you can be heavy on the gas. If you are at highway speed and step on it to pass, it will downshift and take off great. Only issue is first getting into second while hard on the gas.

 

Thanks for any input.