Pull the steering wheel...at the top of the column in the upper flange are one bearing and plastic retainer.

These two parts may be all you need to fix the problem, maybe not.

These two parts are still available from Ford

C3DZ3517A.. Bearing / MSRP: $3.75 / ftepartsguy.com price: $ 2.70

B1AZ3518A .. Retainer / MSRP: $ 2.33 / fteparts guy's price: $ 1.68.

At the bottom of the column is another bearing and retainer, the column needs to be pulled to replace these.

D0AZ3517A.. Bearing-Steering Column lower ~ 4WD only

C6TZ3518A.. Retainer-Steering Column Bearing-lower ~ 4WD only

(1965/72 2WD's use the same parts top & bottom)

There's no such thing as a bearing retainer that needs to be welded in, that total BS!

I have the parts catalog illustration, the lower retainer for the bearing nestles in between the mast jacket and the steering shaft.

Illustration: For $22.00 you can buy a CD copy of the 1964/72 Ford Truck Parts Catalog from hipoparts.com, also sold on ebay.

Every part is illustrated, so the catalog can also be used as an assembly/dis-assembly manual.

Parts catalog exploded view (illustration) of the 4WD steering column: Section 35, page 9.