Need steering column and/or shifter help

[ka_jd7and1]

Hi everyone,

I didn't know if this should go in drivetrain or interior, but it is inside the cab.

I really need to see some pictures of a manual column-shift steering column, especially if someone has pictures of one apart. I got a free truck that needs some TLC. The shifter collar is broken, and the shifter handle was held in place with electrical tape and a shoestring. Thus, the truck does not move under its own power because I have no way to shift. The steering column appears to be missing other parts as well, and I got a bedful of miscellaneus parts that either have been replaced or were to be replaced. I have looked at the parts breakdowns on this site but cannot for the life of me figure out what I need to do to make the truck work (even temporarily).

I can try to take pictures of what I have to work with but can't seem to find my camera, I'll look more whern I get home from work.

Thanks!

[wickedinhere]

Post a pic of what you have, I have my column taken apart and can take some pics if you want. Here is a link to an exploded view of the column.
http://www.fordification.com/images/sch ... column.jpg

[ka_jd7and1]

I need to go borrow a camera, I can't find mine.

Yes, I have seen the exploded view, thank you though.

I need to figure out how to disassemble my column, is there a how-to for that?

So I took my steering wheel off, removed the horn button (nothing inside, been relocated to a pushbutton on the dash), undid the steering wheel nut and took the wheel off. There is something missing here, there is an inch and a half gap between the wheel and the next part of the column. Under the steering wheel itself is a spring and a metal sleeve. Then it looks like there is a bearing down there? (The shaft has a lot of slop once the spring and sleeve are taken out and there's no pressure on the bearing.) Then I can see my turn signal switch, there are a lot of wires that have been cut off that I can see on the right side inside the column. I don't know how to disassemble it from there, is it the 2 nuts (1L,1R) inside?

Ultimately I'm trying to figure out how the shifter attaches to the column and how it moves the shift linkage at the base of the column.

[wickedinhere]

If your gonna tear it down it needs to come out of the truck because if the top bearing is bad i would imagine the bottom one is bad also.

[FORDification]

http://www.fordification.com/3spd-column_01.htm

[fordman]

thats a good tutorial. but if you take those two nuts off the column will come right apart. then inside the shifter bowl you will see how your shifter fits into the shift tube via a ball thing on the end of the shifter. the slack below the steering wheel is an adjustment after you get the new shift bowl put on it. i saw that truck you bought on ebay or craigslist i think. there was lots of black tape on that thing.

[ka_jd7and1]

http://www.fordification.com/3spd-column_01.htm

That's exactly what I needed, thanks!

[ka_jd7and1]

If your gonna tear it down it needs to come out of the truck because if the top bearing is bad i would imagine the bottom one is bad also.

I'm just trying to figure out how to make the shifter work again so i can move the truck around. I'm planning a power steering conversion at some point so the truck will get a new column too.

[ka_jd7and1]

thats a good tutorial. but if you take those two nuts off the column will come right apart. then inside the shifter bowl you will see how your shifter fits into the shift tube via a ball thing on the end of the shifter. the slack below the steering wheel is an adjustment after you get the new shift bowl put on it. i saw that truck you bought on ebay or craigslist i think. there was lots of black tape on that thing.

I figured those nuts would do the trick, but decided not to mess with it tonight.

I'd be willing to bet you haven't seen my truck

[fordman]

maybe it was another truck i saw that had the shifter all taped up. i don't know i was puttign 2 and 2 together and was thinking i might have seen it. but maybe not.

[ka_jd7and1]

Well, I think I may have discovered part of the problem.

So I looked more closely at my shifter. I pulled the shift handle out of the column, it is a plastic handled metal rod with a small nut-driver-looking end (internal hex). Beneath the electrical tape is an orangish rubber bushing, and linking the handle and the column is a 3/8" made in Japan 12-point socket. So maybe that is part of the problem......

I think the column may have been swapped at some point as well, because the interior of the truck is a light yellow and the column is tan. Also, the rag joint looks like it is stretched out over about a half inch or inch of gap, so something isn't lining up right.

Back to the drawing board.....(going to buy a floor shifter ).