I have a 1983 F100 with 3 on the tree. Last weekend my truck attempted to strand me at home depot but I was able to get her back in second and limp home. Anyway, it appears as though the bushing(?) where the shift lever goes into the column has broken. Searching through the forums this appears to be a somewhat common problem. What I couldn't find was what is the best way to get to the problem? Do I take the steering wheel off, followed by the ignition switch mechanism and get to it from that direction or do I approach it from the bottom of the column? I would like to take the easiest approach so that I can get to the problem and try to work out a solution. Thanks for any assistance. Drew

 

Welcome to the forum, drew1!

Many of us try to retain originality whenever possible, but sometimes, unless working with a show vehicle, it is just simpler and easier to update or adapt for functionality sake. The three speed on the column was not real popular with our trucks, so there are not many to be found in the junk yards and those are all old. Since such a small market, replacement parts are not plentiful.

You might consider going to a floor mounted shifter.

 

No such thing. See parts catalog pic of column.

Pot metal shift collar (7228) has an internal bridge that connects it to the shift tube (7212). Over time, the bridge begins to crack, eventually breaks off.

Now the shift lever flops around, because the shift collar is no longer connected to the shift tube.

 

Ok. It is the cast metal collar that had cracked/broken. How is the best way to get to this, remove it and attempt to repair or replace this piece? Thanks!

 

EOTZ-7228-D .. 3 M/T Shift Collar / Obsolete

Applications: 1980/87 F100/350 & Econoline.

No Ford Dealer or obsolete parts vendor has any.

 

Thanks for the help so far. I saw a video where someone used a part from a '79 and cut it down to make it fit. I'm going to give that a shot. However, I still haven't gotten the ignition unit (part 3511 plus the bearings) to come off the column. There is a clip in front of that which I did take off and figured I was home free. Nothing budged. I didn't want to force it because I know there are tricks sometimes which make removal easy. I haven't figured it out yet if there is. I tried some tricks with the key in the ignition but that didn't work either. I have dropped the column so parts under the dash have been unhooked. Any suggestions? Thanks.

 

Drew, see if this helps you (especially beginning at Post #8):

www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1141249-3-speed-shifter-linkage.html

 

Thanks for the recommendation. I have been following that post. The video helped a lot as well as the text, but unfortunately my ignition module is still tight. I removed the clip that I thought was holding it in place but still tight. I tried turning the key to various places and still nothing. I dropped the column and disconnected pieces under the dash and still nothing. I believe that I must just be missing one piece of the puzzle. I'm not quite ready to force it but I am getting there.

 

I don't have any idea on that kind of steering column, sorry (I have he floor-mounted 4-speed).