I'm putting an '83, or so, steering column into my '70 F100 2WD, non-PS truck.

Need to adapt the double-D end of the steering shaft to the rag joint. Or, if there's another way to skin that cat, I'm open to it.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Hope this link works. http://s8.postimage.org/6fmcvsigx/Adapter_Needed.jpg

 

In my 73 I did away with the ugly rag joint ,replaced it with a good steering U-joint. Mine took the 3/4-splined one on both ends, you can get a mixed combination.

 

U-joint would be good. I looked at Borgeson and didn't find anything that appeared to work. Sent them a query to see if they have anything.

Hope someone on here has found a way to connect the double-D shaft end to the splined input shaft on the steering box.

Also hope to find a solution that doesn't require welding since, in spite of a lot of search time and ALLDATADIY purchase, I haven't found instructions that showed me how to get the tilt column apart to get the steering shaft out. Don't think the plastic bearing retainer would survive welding on the end of the steering shaft with the shaft in the column.

 

After seeing your picture i know you can get a combination joint . That looks like a 3/4 square D on the column and probably 3/4 spline on the gear . almost like i had. I don't remember the spline count but i believe it was 36 on mine. You should be able to see all they have on their web page. Or check Home - Speedway Motors, America's Oldest Speed Shop , they have a lot of steering U-joints there of all sizes and mixes.

 

Didn't think about Speedway. The round part of the steering shaft end measures 1" so I suppose a 1" DD would fit that end. I'll pull the flange off the steering box but I'm guessing that uses a 3/4" spline.

Maybe this Sweet Mfg Steering U-Joint, 3/4 36-Spline to 1 Inch DD, GM Manual/Mustang II - Speedway Motors, America's Oldest Speed Shop

or this Steering Rag Joint, 3/4 Inch-30 Spline x 1 Inch DD - Speedway Motors, America's Oldest Speed Shop

will work.

Thanks for your help.

 

__________________________________________________ _____________
___Both will work, my choice would be the U-joint. To me they look better and are easy to clean. You can get them in stainless too. I think the U-joint is safer than the rag joint as long as you don't get a cheap made one. I have removed a few of the old used rag joints and they all are sloppy and show a lot of were in the bolt holes. I always replace them with the best U-joint I can find. My $0.02 worth. JIM__

 

The flange came off the steering box with no problems. 3/4"-36 spline.

This u-joint Sweet Mfg Steering U-Joint, 3/4 36-Spline to 1 Inch DD, GM Manual/Mustang II - Speedway Motors, America's Oldest Speed Shop has the right dimensions but there is no apparent way in the online picture to tighten it onto the shafts. Called Speedway tech and was told there are set screws with lock nuts on either end of the u-joint. Wonder why they don't show them in the picture? Anyway, the u-joint is on the way and should be here by Friday.

On to the next puzzle. THANKS!!

Jim

 

Mine had two set screws and lock nuts ,each end . The one on the steering gear hit in the groove , so i just locked them in place. On the column I first made sure the steering wheel was where i wanted it Then i tightened them in until i new there was a print there. Then I pulled the column back up in to the cab enough to drill a little dimple in those spots. Put it back in place and locked everything down. On mine the column ended up being about 1/4" in towards the cab when I was done , but it's not noticeable . You having a different year it may not be the same ,but the mounting holes to the dash were slotted on mine.

 

Dimpling the DD shaft is a really good idea once the position is certain.

Yes, the column mount to the dash on the newer column is quite different. And, the column is 1/4" bigger in diameter. Tried to adapt the under dash steering column/master cyl/pedal mounting bracket from the '83 into the '70. It would have brought the wide power brake/auto trans brake pedal too, which I would have liked. But, gave up on that idea. The firewall positioning for all that stuff was so different I think I would have transplanted that section of the firewall or at least used it as a template to repostion everything on the '70 firewall. Not worth it.

The lower column mount was on the inside of the firewall on the '83 but the '70 outside mount will be OK I think. Bolts for upper column mount to the dash are very different. The column will be mounted to the '70 under dash bracket with 2.75" muffler clamps.

Hitting lots of false starts/dead ends on this column transplant but feel like its coming together now. It would have been simpler if I found a dent side cruise/tilt column but only ones I found were from '80s trucks. Maybe I'll do a tech article when its done and everything works. Seems like the '80s columns are a lot more plentiful.

 

Yeah I missed the part or forgot you were using a newer column. I had a 79 tilt column from one of my old work trucks i used. It was bolt in like it was meant to be there, only the cover trim to the dash was different than the 73 . So it was a real easy one to do . Not near as hard as putting a custom column with a shifter on it in my 35 chevy street rod. Had to get around the back of the block and manifolds in to mustang II R-P . Three U-joints plus a fixed bearing mid way to hold it in line.

 

1980 and later trucks have a one piece lower steering shaft and coupler assy that contains a flat nylon insert on the coupler's flange. No individual parts were available for it from Ford, the entire assy had to be replaced.

The nylon insert was once sold by autoparts stores. The only 1960/70's trucks that have a lower steering shaft and coupler assy are 4WD's. 1967/75 is one type, 1976/79 is another

 

Glad to see that everything appeared to be in good shape in the column that being installed. Don't plan on replacing anything. Thanks for info.