I am needing to modify my steering column to finish out the swap from manual steering to power. I am really hesitant to section my steering shaft for safety reasons, yet I want to finish this with the least amount of money involved. Has anyone done this conversion by purchasing a new steering shaft (I am assuming 3/4" 36 spline is correct), and putting the stock rag joint flange from the stock steering shaft onto the new steering shaft? Sectioning the column housing I am not concerned about...I guess my other concern is still being able to utilize the stock '65 steering wheel...

Thanks
Phil

 

Phil,

The power columns are slightly shorter than the manual columns. you should be able to find a power column and just rebuild it and replace your existing column.

BB

 

I am having a difficult time finding a power floor shift column at a decent price...some of the prices I'm seeing I might as well buy the ididit or flaming river column

 

I did one in the past for a 66 i changed over. I used as PS column out of a 67-72 truck. You can use an automatic column and just use the sleeve that would house the shifter from your old column and get rid of the shifter guts in it. You can also use the 65 steering wheel.

 

I have a auto column from a 79...would I be able to just remove the shifting mechs out of it as well, and just do some plastic work on the column where the shifter was?

 

I am not sure on that i used one from the 67-72 vintage. You could just pull the guts out but i am not sure about fit and function of the later ones??

 

Cut the shaft to size machine it to fit the flange and MIG or TIG it back together.

Same thing ford did and just as strong. Do you really think it is the weak link?

If your column is for a floor shift no tube mods are necessary as it is all in the shaft where it needs to be taken out. If you used a Bendix box no modifications are necessary.

Garbz

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In '66 (no P/S listed for '65), F100 power steering shaft was just slightly shorter than manual shaft (35 5/8" manual vs 34 15/16" for P/S).

There may be enough adjustment in the tube to compensate, that is, assuming a Bendix box as noted above.

Different scenario if using Ford P/S (Saginaw) from later model truck.

 

Find your self a donor truck automatic (67-74). Take everything from the PS unit to the top of the column. IMO, I would go with the newer PS unit and stay away from Bendix. O BOY, I'm going to get scolded about my Bendix comment. ;o(

 

I am using a 4 spd floor shift column, and I already have the power steering box from a 79...the same truck I grabbed everything from for my power disc brake conversion. I grabbed the column from the 79 as well, but it is a auto column...so it isn't doing me much good...

 

Sorry, my mistake. Don't know why I thought you had an auto.

 

I converted my 66 using a Bendix box. With no mods the steering wheel sat about an inch away from the column. I took the steering shaft out of a 68 F100 power steering column (this truck also had Bendix box) and inserted it into my '66 column (column shift auto) and it worked fine. Different story though if you're using the 69 and later Ford box.

 

Yup. Looks like 2WD 1966 thru 1968 and 1969 (before serial no. D96,001) with P/S were all the 34 15/16" length shaft, diff being the aforementioned '69 had two 3/4" slots vs the earlier 1/2" and 3/4".

After that they went to 32 7/8" shafts.