In NEED of a column or a shifter.....ANY help appreciated

[randyj68]

I need some HELP! I have a 68 F100, factory 390, 3 speed, 3:25 gears. I am going to a C6 and not sure the best path to take. Do I need to find a column from an automatic truck/manual steering or order a floor shifter? What steering columns will work, is it 67 - 71? Are there a template so to speak in the floor to go by to add the floor shifter? Do I have to do anything differnt as far as linkage between the column or floor shift? Any help appreciated trmemdously. I live in NC, the four oaks area if there is anyone on here close by that may have some parts.

[fordman]

for the easiest swap a 67-69 auto column would be your best deal. but columns up to 77 and even 79 can be used in our trucks. i think columns back to 64 or 65 will also fit. floor shifters are a shot in the dark. sometimes they work fine other times they don't. i have seen mustang 2 floor shifters used in our trucks. the two i saw and took apart were very easy setup. just run the shift rod from the trans shift arm to the shifter.

the differences in columns are from 67-69 the wiring plug is the same and it has to have no mods to it at all.
the 70-72 columns have to have the plug on the wiring changed to connect to your under dash wiring harness. but thats ok. you have all the parts from your old column. the only mod i am aware of is to grind off the top end of the steering shaft so your old three spoke steering wheel will fit on the 71/72 column shaft. but you can also reuse your old column shaft too. so you would have to do that if you didn'nt want to grind the end of the shaft.

power columns vs manual columns. you can use either column. you just have to use the correct center steering shaft for your steering box. i think you said you had a manual steering box. that goes along with using a 71/72 steering column. it can be done and just reuse your old inner shaft.


in changing from manual transmission to automatic. you will need the correct length shifter rod from the column to the transmission. the 3 spd shift linkage wont work that i know of.

[randyj68]

Many THANKS!