Hello, I have a 1967 F250 2WD manual steering automatic trans, I have owned it for over 26 years. Gave her a facelift in 1994, and all has been well, except the steering wheel column has gone south............. I'll post some pics later..


I will admit I caused the failure by accident when I cleaned her up in 1994........I sandblasted a lot, and apparently didn't protect the column.............. when I pulled it out, silica sand fell out of the cavity...




Anyway, my question. When removing the column assembly, I had to remove the shaft out through engine bay side, the flange to the coupler is part of the shaft.... then I could rotate the column to get the shifter arm through the firewall opening............couldn't do it any other way.


Is that the proper way, or did I miss something............I searched for removal procedures and came up with Nada..........


any links or advice is greatly appreciated........


Also, any input to what is interchangeable with the 67 would be nice..


I live 100 miles from civilization, and any good parts yards.....


Tom

 

Welcome to FTE

See parts catalog pic below:

More than likely the problem only has to do with the upper & lower steering column bearings (3517 in pic).

At the factory, these were packed with white Lithium Grease. But after 10 years or so, the grease goes bye bye, the bearings begin to squeak like Mickey Mouse caught in a mouse trap.

The upper and lower steering column bearings are the same 1965/73 F100/250 2WD & 1967/73 F350.

These bearings were also used on a gazillion 1960/70's FoMoCo Passenger Cars (including 1965/66 Mustang), and 1966/77 Bronco.

C3DZ-3517-A .. Steering Column Bearing / Available from Ford ~ MSRP each: $10.96.

 

Am I correct that the lower flange on the shaft does not come off, its one piece............... and to reinstall the assembly I will install the column then install the shaft from the engine compartment??


sorry, I started to play with it today but I got stuck with the grand daughter........... tried to remove the lower bearing, but that has not gone well............


I will continue tomorrow


tom

 

Put the shaft back in the column and put it in from inside the cab as a unit.

 

Why are you asking this question after I posted the parts catalog pic? Here it is again.

The pic clearly shows that the 3524 steering shaft and flange is a one piece assembly.

Raise the hood, look at the steering gear box. 3A525 steering coupler (rag joint) bolts the flange, then connects to the input shaft of the steering gear box with a thru bolt and nut.

Once you disconnect the 3A525 steering coupler and shift linkage, the entire column can be removed from inside the cab.

 

Tom, There is only so much ruining that you can do to one of these. ND listed the most likely suspects of what is wrong.

65-72 auto columns are swappable. I have always pulled and installed from inside the cab.

 

I tried to remove it thru the cabin, but I couldn't tilt the column enough get the trans linkage arm thru the opening because the coupler flange at the end of the shaft kept hitting the firewall.. common sense says it should come out together, but I twisted and turned it every which way but loose, and it just would not clear...............


I'll get some pics and measurements after work today..


thanks for the diagrams and reply's...... shower time....


Tom

 

Geez Louise, open up your peepers and read the above carefully.

You cannot remove the column until you DISCONNECT the shift linkage!

The linkage connects to the selector lever (7302 in pic) at the bottom of the steering column, UNDERNEATH the hood!

Look at the pic (A/T shown at lower right), 371602-S is a "wavy" clip, remove that and the A/T shift rod can be removed from the selector lever.

I don't know squat about airplanes (I'd like to own a Beech Staggerwing some day), but I do know Ford trucks.

 

I don't know if this column is original, I've only owned it the past 25 years...........


Here are some picks of what I am dealing with, and yes everything was disconnected..........duh


the measurement for the column to end of shifter linkage arm is 5 3/4 inch, the opening in the firewall is 5 3/8 inch................ it's close, and I may open it up............. but right now it don't clear..


with the shaft installed in the column assembly, I cannot get the shifter arm through the opening, I've tried it from inside the truck, and with it in it's operating configuration..installed, and with the shaft installed, it will not fit, period... the trans shift arm measures 5 1/2 inches from end to end.....for what it's worth.


The second owner's wife had a 1961 thunderbird that was hit in the rear and totaled.......... he transplanted the engine from the bird into the truck in the early 70's, he's dead now, and I don't know yet if he swapped the engine and tranny or just the engine........... and don't know what was done with the column, but it defiantly has been played with in the past.


I am cleaning up the assembly and will reinstall it, that is not a problem... I guess I was wondering if there was a design flaw in 67, the first year of this body style........... been looking around, and it's hard to find one in the salvage yards around here....


I did find a coupler assembly P/N D6TZ 3A525 B for $42.............. supposed to be NOS, and they have one more in stock if anyone is interested............ my old one is shot...........but I will use it to compare the new one....


will add more pics in an other post........


RC

 

Here it is disassembled...............

 

Bead blasted, and waiting for some paint...........


the flange end on the steering shaft does have splines, and no apparent spot weld, but is happy where it is... it will not move..


Question, are the cutouts in the flange where the coupler pins sits worn more than is acceptable, I won't know till the new coupler gets here for a test fit......


RC

 

Here's a pic of the old girl,,,,..................Big Red

 

CORRECT STEERING COUPLER:

C6TZ-3A525-A .. Steering Coupler / Obsolete

1966 F100/250 2WD from serial number 900,001 / 1967/68 F100/250 2WD & F350.

WESLEY OBSOLETE PARTS in Liberty KY has 2 = 606-787-5293.

GREEN SALES CO. in Cincinnati OH has 22 = 800-543-4959.

 

Thanks Bill, will order one today...


Tom

 

Hi...looking for off-line connection to Bill on PN questions for c6 output shaft.


Any help to connect would be appreciated.