I'm trying to convert my 1981 F100 back to a column shifter from an after-market floor shifter. I have the original 3-speed column in the truck but I need the linkage from the column to the transmission.

 

Is this what you're after:

 

The tag on the tranny has the following numbers:
RAT EY GB9
E2TRCA 1564

 

Yes, sir that is what I need.

 

Is it just me or does that look like there's no way in hell that should work?

BTW, a column shift manual is an EXCELLENT anti-theft device...

 

ratrod - I moved your post in the free-to-good-home thread to the JY Wishlist, it seems to belong there and not in the former.

 

Best thing you can do is find a 1980/81 3-spd in the junkyard and take the parts from it.

Those rods don't seem to be available NOS anymore:

E4TZ-7326-A - High & Intermediate
E0TZ-7328-B - Low & Reverse

Perhaps the part numbers have been superseded, perhaps they're just plain gone.

Those 7341 nylon bushings are NLA, too.

I found some places that say they have the 7285 & 7290 things (for connecting at the transmission) but no idea what they'd cost. But, without the rods, what good are they?

1982+ uses different parts, make sure the transmission tags match.

 

E0TZ7228D / E0TZ-7228-D

Hey, These are practically impossible to find. If anyone needs one, PM me. I have an '86 F-150 and the column collar snapped one morning (the little plastic sleeve had bound up) when it refused to go into 1st. Anyway, impossible to find a replacement collar. No parts, no custom parts, no junk yards. However, I found another post somewhere (I'll gladly give this guy the props when I find his post again) where someone took a '79 column shifter and cut it down to fit. Claimed it worked just like the original.

ABSOLUTELY IT DOES! I picked up a '79 column collar, rigged up a cutting jig for my Dremel, took a bit off the top and I'm glad to say that it is indeed working as well as the original - minus that pesky plastic sleeve that refuses to go back in and is ALSO impossible to find.

I know this is an ancient post, but, if you're looking to convert because you can't find a replacement column collar for your 1986 F-150, let me know and I can cut one down for your.

Honesty caveat: The original collar had a narrower lower end because there is a steering column casing that wraps around the collar and the column. The '79 is the same diameter from top to bottom so putting that column sleeve back on might not work. Myself, I epoxied some velcro on the inside of the sleeve so, from top and side, it looks perfect. However, running without it isn't the end of the world, it just exposes the ignition actuation rod on top and wiring bundle of to the lower side.

I may actually have another I can cut down for sale.

 

Thanks for posting this! yes, the 3-on-the-tree shift collar & miscellaneous parts are virtually impossible to find these days, pictures of what you did would really be splendid! *hint* *hint* *hint*

BTW a question... did you mean for both part numbers to be 7228? I'll bet you did....

 

Ahhh, yes, I absolutely DID mean them to be the same! Thanks for the catch!

No worries, I've collected pictures and measurements through the process and I'm putting them together into an "Instructable". I'll post the URL when it's finished. Should have it finished in the next few days.

 

Cool, thanks for everything!!! Reps for this.

I'll add your HOWTO to the subforums at the top of the forum (the Sticky will eventually go away) and hopefully your stuff will be found by people doing Google searches on that part number.

This broken-shifter-column thing has been an issue for years, using 70s parts is downright ingenious & resourceful, thank you for sharing.

 

Does this link help?

 

Great video - WHERE WERE YOU LAST MONTH! ;-)

My shift collar ('86) broke in the exact same spot. From what I hear it's a very common problem. I had a heck of a time finding documentation on how to take everything apart - your video does a great job explaining some of the trickier problems - like those square bolts. After unscrewing just about every bolt and crawling underneath the dash, breaking my knuckles to get that wiring harness out, I found that by removing the steering column bracket (two bolts) and lowering it down allowed very easy access to the cable connector as well as the ignition "initiator". The box where that ignition rod goes in. If found I could unbolt it (two bolts that also held in one end of the ignition cable connector on mine) and the rod just pops out of it's hole. Easy to pull the cable and rod, still attached to the top wheel assy, out through the broken shift column. My ignition rod was bent around the upper arm and I didn't want to bend it out of form to remove it. Removing the lower assy was, once I figured it out, a much easier route and left everything in original shape. As for those square bolts, I found that by pre-bolting them into the top assy with just a turn or two of the nuts allowed me enough play to shimmy the unit into position. With very little persuasion the bolts just popped into those cut-outs. When I tightened them up I just applied a bit of side pressure on the socket and they stayed right in position. Again, after MANY trials and errors, this worked well for me seeing as I had to do this a few times. After all, how many times can you reassemble and STILL have left over pieces? Apparently quite a few... Lastly, given the apparent fragile nature of the piece, I declined to pound in the new shifter retainer pin. I dropped in a very nice 1-1/2" bold, a washer and a locking nut. Fits snug, works great.

How did that JB Weld hold up? Mine didn't pop the welds (yet) and if it does I really don't want to have to pull the entire column to have it spot welded back on.

Good job!

Cheers...

 

If anyone is still looking for those two long, twisty shift rods - I have 'em.

Make me a decent offer plus shipping from NW Ohio and they're yours. May even have one or both of the transmission levers to boot.

 

EOSZ-7341-B (replaced EOSZ-7341-A; D5TZ-7341-A, B & C; D4TZ-7341-A; D0AZ-7341-A; C7SZ-7341-D; C3AZ-7341-A) .. Gearshift Selector Arm Nylon Bushing / Available from Ford.

Applications: Myriad 1963/90's Passenger Cars/F100/350's/Bronco's & Econolines with A/T & 3 M/T.