I have a 1964 F-100 with a 3 speed on the column shift. I am looking to either fix my column or get it totally rebuilt. It often hangs up when its shifted from first to second or when down shifting from second back to first. And in general its not in the best of shape. I have been looking online for somewhere that will either sell one or rebuild one. I found a place called Carolina Classics that will rebuild your steering column. I was wondering if anyone knew of a place and had any advice.

 

I just rebuilt mine. I bought all of the bearings, and washers to do it. I actually bought another column rebuilt it and then replaced my original column.

My old one is not in bad shape if you are interested.

I can tell you that most of the time shifting issues are not the column at all but the cab supports caving in and making the angles bad.

I spent $60 on all the bearings and washers in the column to rebuild it.

It is not hard, it can be done in about an hour.

I would replace the rag joint while you are in there. It is at the end of the column right where it attaches to the steering gear. It is the cause of many peoples sloppy steering.

 

All you need are a coupla parts, so there is no need to send the column out to be repaired. You can fix the shifting problem yourself in about 10 minutes.

Binding up between 1st & 2nd is usually caused by worn bushings/insulators in the two manual control selector levers at the bottom of the steering column...under the hood.

C3TZ-7343-A .. Bushing & Insulator Kit (kit includes parts for both levers) / Obsolete / Applications: 1961/64 F100/250 2WD.

KINSEL L/M in Beaumont TX has 4 = 800-816-2894 / ANTIQUE AUTO SUPPLY in Arlington TX has 6 = 817-275-2381 / GREEN SALES CO. in Cincinnati OH has 12 = 800-543-4959.
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If you wish, you can replace the two bearings/sleeves in the column. On 1961/64's, both are mounted to the upper flange, one above, one below.

You have to pull the steering wheel, then you can see the upper, remove the flange, look on its bottom side, there's the other.

Note: The horn brush & insulator hand presses into the outside of the steering wheel. Usually when you remove the wheel, the horn brush falls out.

2) C3DZ-3517-A .. Upper/Lower Steering Column Bearing / Available from Ford.

MSRP each: $10.68 / FTE Ford Dealer Parts Dept sponsor PARTSGUYED.COM price each: $7.69.

2) B1AZ-3518-A .. Nylon Bearing Sleeve / Available from Ford.

MSRP each: $10.12 / PARTSGUYED.COM price each: $7.28.

Applications for both: 1961/65 F100/250 2WD/4WD upper/lower / 1966 F100 4WD upper / 1967/72 F100/250 2WD & F350 upper/lower / 1967/72 F100/250 4WD upper / Myriad 1950/60's Passenger Cars.

Note: There is no steering coupler (aka rag joint) on any 1961/64 truck. T'wasn't introduced until 1965.

And...1961/64 F100/250 2WD steering columns are not the same as 1965/66 F100/250 2WD steering columns. Only a few parts are the same.

 

Thanks for the Advice, Would you suggest ordering them from LMC Truck?

 

I got all of mine through a local reseller of Dennis Carpenters stuff. I go through him because he charges the same as DC, and I get a lot of good info on how to do stuff.

I have a bad opinion of LMC, since I bought my anti-rattle kit from LMC and it didn't fit right. I may have to buy most of the roll down window seals again.

 

Mr. Wilson (a.k.a. ND),
Wasn't the '65 rag joint a federally-mandated "safety" issue?
Supposedly to make the steering column less of a hazard to the driver in the event of an accident....

BarnieTrk

 

65 F100 and F250 four wheel drives still used a Gemmer one piece box.

The re design was to provide a more easily entered cab with a lower floor and substantial more leg room.

Garbz

 

Don't know, but I do know that 4WD's didn't have one until 1976.

Previous 4WD's used a clamp & thru bolt to attach the lower steering shaft and coupler to the input shaft of the gearbox.

If the feds mandated that 2WD's have one, why didn't they mandate the same for 4WD's?

Passenger Cars were required to have a collapsible steering column beginning in 1968. Basically it's one shaft inside another with nylon pins connecting the two.

The column collapses when the pins snap off. When were trucks required to have it? Not until the 1980's.

 

The Rag Joint, steering coupler was probably an attempt to take the vibration out of those older vehicles I think, so your hands didn't get too numb while you were hangin' on for dear life. I am working on replacing one in a '69 Z28 right now, that is a crehvloet ya know. I bet one from these old trucks would work.
Most Makes in the late '60s and '70s had them. Thank somebodys god they improved on that idea.

 

Yeah, I had a basturdfek once. Turned out the PO had installed the letters wrong!

 

Just my 2 cents with morning coffee... If the rag-joint was for vibration, I think they would've put one on my 66 Mustang. On the trucks.. since the cab is rubber mounted, the column also needs a flexible connection to the frame. Ever wonder why they put those big loops in the brake line? It's another connection between the flexible cab and solid frame.

 

Some 1965 Ford Passenger Cars (Galaxie/LTD, Fairlane, Thunderchicken) have a steering coupler, what y'all call a rag joint.

1967 was the first year that Mustang's have it. There were 4 different types: Manual steering with/without tilt, P/S with/without tilt.

 

I am going to get one of those Shifter Bushing insulator kits and in researching the suppliers I came across this Youtube bit about Antique auto supply.
Had no idea who or what before, but he has a cool story going on there and if his prices aren't too bad I would get them there. Don't look like he is over run with employees!
I have been buying a lot of parts and have sort of copped an ebayish attitude of faster, cheaper, but this guy might be worth the wait.
Anyone deal with this guy?
Antique Auto
Antique Auto Supply - YouTube

 

Thanks for posting that video. Some cool stuff.

 

Yup, been inside and he and his store are just about as folksy as they are portrayed on the Texas Country Reporter show. Didn't realize it encompassed 9 warehouses, though!

Prices are fairly reasonable. I recall dealing with them since about 1970. They are not running a 'museum' and will deal with you on price. When I have visited them, they want to sell you a part.

So when you call, they may say, "Well, that shows to sell for $30., but I'd think $20. would do it."

Bought an dual adapter for my oil pressure gauge/light, and they opened the box, looked at it and dealt with me somewhat as I described above.