power vs manual steering column

[kilog55]

whats the main differance? i know it would depend on saginaw or bendix.

but i imagine a floor shift manual is shorter overall then a column shift by a good 3-4-5 inches right?

reason i ask is there is one on ebay but the description leaves something to desire

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... Track=true

[fordman]

all manual steering columns are longer than the power steering columns. by about three inches. the difference is in the length of the center steering shaft. the main outer shaft is the same wheather it is manual or power steering. that column you have listed is not for tilt. it is a power steering column only. and for a floor shift tuck.

[kilog55]

yeah i know non-tilt, was just wondering if it would be any shorter in the cab. i think my main problem is the steering wheel i know it isnt the correct one for the truck as the turnsignals do not cancel after you turn.

wonder if i can safely cut it down like 3" like in the tech article but make so it is shorter in the cab

[fordman]

i guess that depends on your skills. and if you trust cutting and rewelding the tube. as well as the flange. i would try a different wheel first. whats the dish on your wheel now. how far does it sit from the column?i think the original wheels are around a 7 inch dish. i think.

[kaptnkaos]

A guy could do that...

The top collar comes off, the tube could be cut to what length you wanted it to be inside then put the collar back on...
You would also have to shorten the steering rod the same amount...
This would really only be feasible on one that is for a floor shift because you would also have to shorten the shifting tube as well for an auto column.
The column also has a hole where the wires go back into the column for a short ways and come out again toward the bottom...
It would be hard to shorten that part...
On the bigger rigs, the wires are run on the outside of the column in shrink tubeing and held in place with clips that go around the column...

KaptnKA S

[kilog55]

from the base of the wheel to the very outer edge its 9" if i remember correctly ill have to remeasure it to be certain i know the OME sport wheel on the 79' is around 7 if not a wee bit less.

from the outer edge of the wheel in the 72 to the back of the seat i have 13"

in the 79 i have 16.5" if i could get it up to that i would be happy

[fordman]

i bet you could with the correct wheel. a 9 inch wheel is big. i wounder if its off a galaxie or something with a deep wheel.

[kilog55]

i took this pic the other day nice big ugly mean green wheel. you can see the gap from the column to wheel. i measured from the gap to the rim of the wheel

[fordman]

that column looks longer than it should be. is this a power steering truck right now? that wheel should be closer to the dash shouldn't it.

[kilog55]

non power anything. i would hope so cause man its a tight fit i would not want to get in a head on with anything bigger then a squirrel.

it is a non-tilt 3 on the tree but the lever is missing hence the PO added the floor hurst

i will measure everything tomorrow from firewall to top of column, from mount on dash up and down etc

[FORDification]

all manual steering columns are longer than the power steering columns. by about three inches. the difference is in the length of the center steering shaft. the main outer shaft is the same wheather it is manual or power steering. ...

Sorry, there IS a difference in the column housing length between power- and manual-steering columns....for automatic columns. The 4-speed columns, however, have the same housing length between MS and PS. I can't say for sure on the 3-spd columns, I've never seen a PS 3-spd column to make the comparisons.

The gap between the steering wheel and the column housing can be simply fixed by loosening the column-to-dash bolts and the clamp at the base of the main shaft and then sliding the housing up towards the wheel. Once the gap has been closed up, tighten everything back up.

[fordman]

what is the length of the manual and auto coloumns and the differeence in length? i asked a while back and no one would freaking measure one or give me the time of day. except the kapt. but he gave me a measurement from a 3 spd column. and the measurement sounded way short.

[kilog55]

heh i can measure my 3 speed and the 4 speed in the 79 but that wont help much

[fordman]

i have a 3 spd and a 4 spd column. i just dont have amanual auto column to measure.

[FORDification]

Here is the difference between a manual steering column (top) and a power steering column (bottom).



The column housing for the power steering column measures 28-1/16", and the manual steering piece measures 30-7/16". These measurements are taken of the housing alone, with the steering column completely disassembled. Here is a comparison picture of a 4-spd MS main housing (top) and the PS automatic column (bottom). The column housing at the bottom of this pic is, as you can see, totally disassembled, and it's this piece that I got the measurements from:



This information is posted to the How to Shorten Your Manual-Steering Column tutorial.