Shortening a manual-steering steering column

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Shortening a manual-steering steering column

Post by FORDification »

Well, I was out surfing the web last night and happened to stop over at another Ford forum (no, not them!). Anyway, there was a discussion going on about converting to power steering, and the differences between a manual steering (MS) column and a power steering (PS column). As most of you know, there's a 2-inch difference in length to accomodate the longer Saginaw PS box. However, there has been much discussion about the proper way to modify an existing column in order to mate up with the Saginaw box. In the forum thread I was reading, one user posted a link to the tutorial on this site, and someone else responded that my tutorial was wrong. (Actually, I think he said it was "WRONG!"...in all caps.) I'd heard a little banter here and there about shortening the shifter tube and column housing, but hadn't really pursued the matter any more.

However, after reading that last night, I decided to find out once and for all what the differences were...in detail....so I could redeem myself! I took the afternoon off work (it was a slow day anyway) and spent the afternoon in the shop, completely tearing down two columns, one PS and another MS, and took a boatload of pictures, made a LOT of measurements, etc., and am finally able to update my tutorial with detailed information on how to modify your existing MS column.

I just sat down to get started on the new PS tutorial add-on. It'll probably take me most of the evening to put this together, because of the vast amount of pictures I need to process, but this is going to be my project for this evening. Hopefully by the time I call it a night I'll have posted an update which will show you exactly what you'll need to do.

The only thing missing off this page will be the mods needed for using a 3-spd column. I do have one of those columns and will be updating the tutorial again in the very near future, as soon as I can sit down and tear it apart and compare it to the others.

Stay tuned! :D
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'67 F-100 2WD SWB ~ '69 F-100 4WD SWB w/7" chop ~ 1975 F-250 Ranger XLT Supercab Camper Special
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re: Shortening a manual-steering steering column

Post by GT-Racer »

So...... were you actually WRONG!!?

Just wondering, :lol: :P
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Post by fordman »

yea there are several lenghts of shafts for the steering. you have so many combinations you have to look at. mine is a auto colum shift with power steering power brakes and a bendix box the shaft is 35in long at its longest point. then you come into the 3 and 4 speed shafts. the steering box will also give you a different shaft length. as well as floor shift and manual steering. what is that about 5-8 differenences or combinations maybe more a person could have. i'd like to see how your need info turns out that is alot of different combinations to figure out. for those of you who care this post 250 for me.
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re: Shortening a manual-steering steering column

Post by flyboy2610 »

250 posts in under 3 weeks! I bet your fingers are tired! :lol:

Keith, that tutorial could be just what I need! :D :D :D :D :D
I have a PS column that was in my truck, it has a 4spd. I want to go to an automatic, and plan to use the C6 I bought from you last fall.
This summer I bough an AC set up from 4x4x4crewcab, and he gave me an aoutomatic column from a MS equipped truck. I plan to use the shaft from the original column and wanted to cut down the MS column to the same length as the PS column but didn't know how.
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Post by fordman »

no i'm just full of it i guess. i a thinker not a talker. i can;t hold a conversation with anyone but i can think about what needs to be said.
Last edited by fordman on Sun Feb 22, 2015 5:19 am, edited 1 time in total.
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re: Shortening a manual-steering steering column

Post by 67effie »

I have heard that a manual column can be used with the old bendix units but not the saginaw's. I swapped out my column when i did my power steering with a saginaw box.
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re: Shortening a manual-steering steering column

Post by FORDification »

Whew....well, after working on this page off-and-on for the past 8 hours, it's finally up and running. I've edited the Power Steering tutorial to reflect this new information, and the new tutorial is also linked to from the site's front page, as well as the Site Index and Technical Papers section.

Take a look and let me know what you think. If there's something that can be added to or clarified, I'd like to hear it.....good or bad.

How to Shorten Your Manual-Steering Column
____| \__
-O-----O- Keith
'67 F-100 2WD SWB ~ '69 F-100 4WD SWB w/7" chop ~ 1975 F-250 Ranger XLT Supercab Camper Special
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-> Posting and you! <-a MUST watch for all!!
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re: Shortening a manual-steering steering column

Post by flyboy2610 »

That's wonderful, Keith! :clap: :clap:
I will definetly follow that tutorial when I get ready to section the steering column.
You da man! :wink:
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