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I have an auto/tilt column in my '70 that I am suspicious about being the original column. The harness plug has been cut off and it is wired straight into the trucks harness. I got the truck this way. No ignition switch in the column. It is a Ford column. The problem I have is the lower bearing is bad and needs replaced. Have no idea what bearing I need.
Optional tilt wheel (not standard equipment on Lariats or any other models) introduced in 1978 F100/350's, Econolines and Bronco's. Operates off the turn signal handle by pressing it forward.
1978/79: The NSS is on the transmission / 1965/77: The NSS is on the column.
C3DZ-3517-A .. Steering Column Bearing / Available from Ford.
Possibly. There is one at the top and one at the bottom of the column. I have play in the steering and when checking I found the bad bearing allowing the steering shaft to move up and down before ever moving in a circular manner. Clear as mud? You should be able to move the wheel up and down if your upper bearing is bad.
Optional tilt wheel (not standard equipment on Lariats or any other models) introduced in 1978 F100/350's, Econolines and Bronco's. Operates off the turn signal handle by pressing it forward.
1978/79: The NSS is on the transmission / 1965/77: The NSS is on the column.
C3DZ-3517-A .. Steering Column Bearing / Available from Ford.
Like you guys say, the top-line Rangers and Lariats are the logical place to source one of these tilt columns but I've found the '78/'79 Explorer package models are also a good place to look. They're hard to miss with the extra striping usually on them and I've seen more with tilt than without; a poor man's Lariat, if you will...
Mike I wonder if it has anything to do with location, while I have seen many explorers I don't recall ever seeing a tilt in one. I can imagine that it would have had a hefty add on fee in 78/79. The Lariat was the bossmans truck loaded to the hilt & not a lot of them in NC.
That's a good bet, John. Alberta's the biggest truck market in Canada much like Texas is for the US. Good oil and farming revenue probably was a cause for dealers to load these trucks up when ordering. So far, among the Explorers of that vintage I've come across here, and it might just be a fluke, it's running 6 to 1 in favor of tilt equipped. I had a very nice '79 460 F150 Explorer with tilt a few years back.