Hi Guys,
Well, as of this afternoon, my steering column in my 71 Ranger XLT is shot. I thought it was on it's way out - but didn't expect this. I'm going to be searching around for one - does anyone know what years/models will fit my 71? It has power steering, and doesn't have a tilt steering wheel. Automatic Transmission w/shifter on the column (nice and floppy right now!).

Thanks,
Bob

 

You have a wide selection of years to choose from, Bob. The a/t p/s column (used with saginaw p/s box) is basically the same physically from '68-'77. The turn signal wiring will need to matched up wire by wire as the plugs changed over the years. The '78/'79 tilt columns are also a basic bolt in excercise.

mike

 

Bendix P/S: 1966/68 F100/250 2WD / 1969 F100/250 2WD before serial number D96,001.

Ford/Saginaw P/S: 1969 F100/250 2WD & F350 from serial number D96,001 / 1970/79 F100/250 2WD & F350 / 1976/79 F100/150 4WD / 1977 F250 4WD from serial number Y20,001 / 1978/79 F250 4WD / 1979 F350 4WD.
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Corkwheats: Why change the steering column if you don't have to? How do you know that if you do change columns, the user won't be any better than what you have now, could be worse?

The upper & lower steering column bearings and their nylon sleeves are available from Ford as is the shift collar. Total price for all these parts: Less than 65 bucks!

The pot metal shift collar has an internal bridge that connects it to the shift tube. The bridge begins to crack, eventually breaks off. Now, the collar is no longer connected to the tube, so the shift lever flops around.

D5TZ-7228-A .. A/T Shift Collar ~ 1965/66 F100/250 / 1967/77 F100/350 / MSRP: $65.98 / FTE sponsor tousleyfordparts.com price: $43.55 / Tousley Ford ~ White Bear Lake MN

 

Thanks for the terrific info. I'll be checking with my mechanic in town before I do anything. Yesterday was a holiday, so was unable to do so.

I was trying to fool with that stupid thing for over an hour yesterday - There's a pin that holds the shifter into place.....I tried everything in the world to get that darned thing out, so I could slide down the cover and maybe see what's going on in there - no dice. I tried tapping it out, drilling it out, etc. It's quite obvious I'm not the mechanic that many of you guys are.

This is what (at the moment) has me thinking it would almost be better to just find an intact sterring column, and bolt it in. The one that was in this truck was "suspect" from the beginning. The steering wheel wasn't the right one. You could tell it was "rigged" on there. There was a big open space between the steering wheel and the rest of the column. And the thing just felt funny when driving (made noises).

So, there's a chance this thing could be saved, I suppose. I'll continue to look at my options. Thanks so much for the help, guys. You are awesome!

Bob

 

305093-S2 .. Roll Pin ~ 3/16" x 1 1/2" long / Obsolete

RICK FORD SALES in Hemlock MI has 15 = 989-642-5261.

GEORGE ORDUS FORD in Bad Axe MI has 15 = 989-269-9245.
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If the truck cannot be shifted, the collar has broken. Cut the collar where the pin goes thru it with a hacksaw, then beat the pin out.

Noises are most likely caused by dried up/worn out upper/lower bearings that are packed at the factory with white lithium grease.

2) C3DZ-3517-A .. Upper/Lower Steering Column Bearings / MSRP each: $10.68 / tousleyfordparts.com price each: $7.05.

2) B1AZ-3518-A .. Upper/Lower Steering Column Bearing Nylon Sleeves / MSRP each: $4.85 / tousleyfordparts.com price each: $3.20.

65 bucks for the collar and these parts, another coupla bucks for the roll pin. Problem solved.

Buying another column: What will it cost? Will it fit without modifications? Who knows? It depends on what it came from. Will the column be any good? Maybe, maybe not considering its age.

And be prepared, most ebay sellers haven't a single clue what parts actually fit.

 

Good catch, Bill, and good info. Must have been the ol' fatfinger syndrome, hitting the eight instead of nine...

mike

 

Sounds like it might have already had a column from something else butchered into it. But if you have the original, take your time and rebuild it like Bill advised. It can be a little intimidating the first time but there are plenty of guys here to help walk you through it. I would plan on a total rebuild, including the turn signal switch, horn contacts ect. Then it will give many years of trouble free service when you're done.
On finding a used column, there are several variations just in the 67-72s and just finding one doesn't mean you have a bolt up. Numberdummy can give you the specifics but there are several different lengths of steering shafts and some one year only parts, plus a change in the turn signal switch part number (which, to the best of my knowledge, just seemed to be switching some wires around in the connector block). Try to find one from the same year if you can.

 

C9TZ-13341-C .. T/S Switch ~ 1965/66 F100/250 2WD / 1966 F100 4WD / 1967/68 F100/350 / 1969 F100/350 before serial number G30,001.

DOTZ-13341-B .. T/S Switch ~ 1969 F100/350 from serial number G30,001 / 1970/72 F100/350.

D3TZ-13341-A .. T/S Switch-use with M/T ~ 1973/77 F100/350 / 1974/77 Bronco / 1975/77 Econoline.

D3TZ-13341-B .. T/S Switch-use with A/T without Speed Control / 1973/77 F100/350 / 1974/77 Bronco / 1975/77 Econoline.

D5TZ-13341-B .. T/S Switch-use with Speed Control only / 1975/77 F100/350 & Econoline.

D8TZ-13341-A .. T/S Switch-use with Tilt Steering Wheel only / 1978/79 F100/350, Bronco & Econoline.

D8TZ-13341-B .. T/S Switch-use with A/T / 1978/79 F100/350, Bronco & Econoline.

D8TZ-13341-C .. T/S Switch-use with M/T / 1978/79 F100/350, Bronco & Econoline.

 

Thank you guys so much. Goodness, you know your stuff!. At this point in time, considering the time, expense, etc., involved, I'm still planning on swapping out the Steering Column from the Steering Wheel down to the rag joint.

There is a guy on here who has one from a 1971 F250. He's giving me what I feel is a pretty good deal on it. It would just suit my situation a little better than trying to rebuild the current one that has numerous issues.

I believe this is my best option at this point. I just need to get this puppy up and going.

Thanks!
Bob

 

Hi Guys,

Need some help! I found a guy that had a Steering Column out of a 1978 Ford Pick Up - for my 1971 Truck (I had read where they will fit). I got it for $40. I'm on a very limited budget, so I couldn't pass it up.

It's not the Tilt Steering (would've been nice). But, it is from a Truck with Auto Trans. & Power Steering (like mine).

Here's the deal: It has a different type of "U-Joint" in the column, instead of a "rag joint". From what I can tell so far, this is because it came from a 4WD Truck.

Is that correct?

Will it still fit?

I haven't had a chance to even look at it much yet - but it appears that there is a little spline type deal that goes into the rag joint on my 71 Truck......and it looks like the same type of spline thing going into the U-Joint on the 78 Steering Column I bought.

So.....do I just un-bolt it from the U-Joint, and pull out the spline end, and slip it into the rag joint on mine?

Really need some help here guys. Thanks.

Bob

 

If you had spent 25 more bucks, you could have bought the parts to fix your column. But, instead you've bought a 4WD column that will not fit.

I dunno what you're calling a u-joint, because 1976/79 4WD columns do not have one. So, is the P/S A/T column from a 1973/75, or a 1976/79?

1967/75 4WD's have a lower steering shaft & coupler assy composed of individual replaceable parts including a u-joint. Coupler attaches to input shaft of steering box with a clamp & thru bolt.

1976/79 4WD's have a one piece lower steering shaft and coupler assy. No individual parts are available for it. Obsolete, no one has any. Peeps have to replace it w/a Borgeson shaft & coupler.

Coupler attaches to input shaft of steering box with a steel/rubber coupler (aka rag joint). It's not the same as your truck.

C9UZ-3A525-A .. Steel/Rubber Coupler (aka rag joint): 1969/74 F100/350 P/S & M/S /1975 F100/350 with M/S.

1967/77: NSS located on steering column / 1978/79: NSS located on transmission.

1978/91: Tilt steering wheel operates via the turn signal handle by pressing it forward.

 

Oh, well. If you say it's the wrong one, I'm sure you're right. Darn it! Please cut me just a little bit of slack, though, okay? I'm a total newbie, and getting the steering column is just a better way to go for me than attempting to repair the current one. It is not only broken, but was a "rig job" when I bought it - I knew I was going to have to replace it at some point.

I sincerely appreciate the great info. You're a real pro. I wish I was! I very much value your input. Since I got this thing so cheap, maybe I can re-sell it to somebody else real cheap and it will help them out.

Thanks,
Bob