What steering columns to look for?

[dotcentral]

Took a good look today at the column in my 79 parts truck and I don't think I'll be happy with it in my truck. I have a 1970 non p/s 3-speed on column setup. Getting ready to go to power steering. An auto or 4-speed p/s setup would work. What year ranges should work? 65-77?

My problem with the 79 is the way it is designed at the turn signal-gear selector-wheel area. I don't think it will match my 70's era interior. Has that plastic column cover. The thing only really needs a new turn signal and shifter to look nice.

Any car columns that might work? Maybe a 60's era big Ford, Merc, Lincoln? Anything else the approx. length?

What price range are columns going for? If I have to get a column shortened, what is the price range on that?

Sorry, lots of questions. I didn't realize the 79 columns were so different.

Added a pic of the 79 column

[68F250]

What don't you like about the plastic cover? You can remove it and just have the clear plastic PRNDL sticking out the top like on our year trucks. Somebody here has one like that in their '67... or was it the other site?

[FORDification]

(I think that was over on the Dark Side.... I saw that too, where somebody removed the shift indicator cover, and without that, the later column almost looks identical to the early column.)

So are you planning on just going to a floorshift then?

[dotcentral]

The wider area, where the thin plastic column cover rests on. Can that thing be easily removed? This is a cropped photo from your tilt page trying to show the thing I'm concerned about.

[dotcentral]

What don't you like about the plastic cover? You can remove it and just have the clear plastic PRNDL sticking out the top like on our year trucks. Somebody here has one like that in their '67... or was it the other site?

68F250, Are we talking about the same piece? Another image "borrowed" from the fordification tilt page. This shows the column in partial disassembly. Red arrow marks the thing I don't like. If it is removed, have I really gained anything or should I really be looking for a 70-72 p/s column? Does anyone have a pic of a 73-77 column? From what I hear they might be what I am looking for.

[willowbilly3]

The picture is of a tilt column. Is that what you want? I think the last one I saw on ebay went over $300, rare.
I have seen columns from 60s era T-birds and Lincolns used but I am not real sure what was required. The pre-67 ones with out the key switch look nice but for security and anti-theft you might consider a locking column.
Maybe a swing away column from a 64 T bird or Galaxy would be cool. (sick for generation next)

[68F250]

I don't see any pictures?

Did you say tilt column? Oops, they are a little different. The column I saw was a non-tilt and without the PRNDL cover it looked almost exactly like ours. (It really says PRND21 but how do you pronounce that?) A nice touch is the PRNDL is lighted for those years.

[willowbilly3]

[quote="68F250"]I don't see any pictures.

Click on the square that says download

[dotcentral]

Sorry, I don't think I was being clear. I don't need a tilt column. I do have a 79 column (non-tilt) but it has a thick area, just like the tilt pic from this site. That's what I was trying to say.

I don't want to use the 79 column as is, because of this thick piece. The 73-77 columns I've seen do not have this. 73-77s have a tapered piece.

[jreb333]

i talked to an old man here locally who has done several conversions and i saw his latest one. it looks good.

he said no matter which way that you want to go, you will need to shorten the column. a compentant welding shop can do this quite easily.

he also said he is playing with ideas on using the column out of a 76 lincoln for his next project. the dash to wheel length is shorter than an automatic truck column making it a comfortable fit without shortening and the column is already tilt and it is adjustable das to p/s box. i dont know what would be involved here but its an interesting idea

[willowbilly3]

I just find a column from a truck that already had p/s. If you find a similiar year you can just change out the shaft and keep the original column that matches your truck. Cutting down the shaft works fine too.

[68F250]

Ok, I see what you're talking about now (you have to be logged in first to see that there are attachments, sheesh)

The columns up to '77 are still skinny like ours, in '78 they got a lot fatter.

Sorry for the confusion.

[dotcentral]

There's a person not far from me with a 75 column, so going to try and get up with him and work a trade. Thanks everyone for helping out.

[Tim P.]

Hey JB youlook like you have enough inventory to start your own web site from here on in

[willowbilly3]

Those are all the trucks I have owned over a 30 year period. Right now I own the 72 in my avitar which is still in Alaska, a 75 460 supercab F-250 which is for sale. My 69 crewcab which I hope will be a keeper, and a 96 F-150 supercab which I hope goes away to be replaced with a 67-72 shortbed in the near future. Then I will only need a highboy and, an F-350 motorhome and a couple others to fill out my collection. Oh, and at least one of them will need to be a Mercury.