Steering column question

[thunderroad]

Maybe this should have gone in drive train, but...I'm picking up my project truck tonight (71 F100,302,AT) and the most obvious problem is that something has broken in the transmission shift linkage apparatus in the steering column. The lever is just hanging down loose. I didn't get a chance to really look at it because it was raining at the time. Has anyone ran into this problem or have an idea where I should start? I would imagine I'll just have to remove the colum and check it out, but I thought I'd ask in case someone had been down this road.
I've read that there are a lot of columns from later years that will fit, but I'd rather keep it stock if possible....although it does seem kinda long. It's been years since I even drove a truck of this vintage and had forgotten about the BIG steering wheels and how far they stuck out. My 25 year old son-in-law asked me what the chrome ring inside the steering wheel was for. I reached in and tapped it and when the horn sounded he said "Whoa"...

[old_mare]

I don't know much about columns and how to repair them, but lots of guys here have spare parts and I'm sure somebody could dig you up a column that is of your year.

If you can't seem to fix it or you give up on it post something in the Parts Wanted section of the forum. Like I said, someone somewhere will have exactly what you are looking for

hth,
-JT-

[AlleyCat]

It sounds like the shift collar ( sometimes called bowl) is broken.As long as the shift tube isn't damaged it can be fixed in the truck.

[thunderroad]

That's interesting. Can you elaborate or point me towards a thread or link? Fixing it in the truck would be great. I was just speculating that it would be something near the end of the column. I'm not familiar with what's inside there. Where is the collar located? I've fooled with cars for about 40 years now but have never worked on a steering column.

[fordman]

to replace the collar you take the wheel off remove the turn signal switch. and the two bolts that hold the turnsignal collar in and the shift collar should slide up. it could be that just the shifter arm is worn off too. they have a funny shaped end on it the clicks into some indentation type of thing inside the collar.

[MadMaxetc]

This is the inside of your column. The 2 rivits that hold the key for the shifter arm are probably broke. A few tack weld will fix that.



Check this out to see how to take it all appart.

http://www.fordification.com/steering-column.htm

[qmcdugan]

Im replacing the Bowl, (as one person mentioned). With my column the bowl (Shift Collar) that has the Automatic shift lever mounted to it, has an integrated tube inside that the shift tube fits into. This center ring or tube is not heavy duty and cracks after hard years of banging it into Park from Drive or vise versa. LMC has the parts. I have simply polished the aluminum surface of the new Shift Collar $30.00 and it looks quite nice. Once you've pulled the steering wheel off and get the shift tube ( if the collar is okay ) out you should see what's needed.

[thunderroad]

Thanks all. I took your advice and disassembled the column today and found the inside of the bowl to be busted. I've never had one apart before. That's quite the little engineering marvel, huh? I posted in the parts wanted section about where to find one. What is this LMC? I'm new at this stuff and not up on the vendors.
thanks again

[AlleyCat]

LMC truck parts sells a wide varitiy of parts for our trucks.Also there's National Parts Depot ( NPD ) , Dennis Carpenter reproductions. Blue Oval truck parts and others. Check out the links and resources at the top of the page.

[thunderroad]

Thanks....I'll take a look at those tomorrow when I get to work. (on break, of course ) I'm on dial-up out here in the country and I probably can't stay awake long enough for the sites to load up.

[westernkansas]

I have the same problem, My shift collar busted clean through and hopfully my new part will be here in the morning from lmc. I don't know much but am learning as i go on my 72. my question is how difficult is it to put the new collar on, does it just slip on or do i need to greese the thing up? my Friday night will be spent in my works parking lot fixing the truck that has been parked there since last friday, at least i will be away from home and not in my garage working on it with the wife coming out yelling at me to take the trash out

[AlleyCat]

I have the same problem, My shift collar busted clean through and hopfully my new part will be here in the morning from lmc. I don't know much but am learning as i go on my 72. my question is how difficult is it to put the new collar on, does it just slip on or do i need to greese the thing up? my Friday night will be spent in my works parking lot fixing the truck that has been parked there since last friday, at least i will be away from home and not in my garage working on it with the wife coming out yelling at me to take the trash out

It just slips onto the shift tube. Put a bit of grease where it slides over the tube. Be sure to check out the link MadMaxect posted. Keith is a lot better with words than I am.

[qmcdugan]

First try this out side of the car at your bench and get a feel for what you are doing or risk loosing the bolts down the column.

There are 2 small bolts that hold the flange to the collar. Fit the bolts through the holes and just get the nuts started while leaving them loose enough to work with and to keep them from falling down inside the column.
With the pieces in place and more or less fitting together use a speed driver (screw driver with a socket instead of a phillips head) or other similar tool, tighten them down. Some have recommended the use of grease to hold the bolt in place, but I think getting them started as I described works better. Take your time and be carful of those wires there are a lot of sharp edges.

[westernkansas]

well I did it with only one mistake, I did not rehook the lever for the nuetral saftey switch back onto the tube, now I am fighting it to try to install the thing back onto the shaft with no luck, Is there a short cut to do this without tearing everything apart or dropping the whole steering column? If I do need to drop the column how would I go about doing that, I have removed the two bolts under the dash but there is no up or down play in the steering column, is there more bolts to be taken out, if so were?

[westernkansas]

oh yeah to qmcdugan I managed to do it your way on the collar/ flange bolts, took a little playing but it went on smoothly without risking the bolts falling thanks