I just picked up 1970 f100 260cu i6 three on the tree 2wd. I'm having trouble finding a rag joint and shift linkage bushings. Are there parts still out there? Is there a fix using other none factory parts? The truck runs great just a little slopy.

 

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C9UZ-3A525-A (replaced C9TZ-3A525-B & D3TZ-3A525-A) .. Steering Coupler (aka rag joint) / Obsolete

Applications: 1969/74 F100/250 2WD & F350 with or without P/S / 1969/74 Econoline / 1975 F100/250 2WD & F350 without P/S

No Ford dealer or obsolete parts vendor has any. Available from Dorman Products, sold by auto parts stores.
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Bottom of the steering column underneath the hood are the two manual control selector levers that the shift rods from the trans attach to.

In each lever is a rubber bushing & insulator. The bushings age crack, the shift lever has play and/or binds up.

C5TZ-7343-A .. Bushing & Insulator Kit / Obsolete

Applications: 1965/72 F100/250 2WD with 3 M/T

SUSANVILLE FORD in Susanville CA has 1 = 530-257-2137.

TOWER MOTOR CO. in Coos Bay OR has 2 = 541-269-5062.

GREEN SALES CO. in Cincinnati OH has 12 = 800-543-4959.

PARTS INTERNATIONAL in Farmers Branch TX has 22 = 888-727-0418.

CARPENTER NOS OBSOLETE PARTS in Concord NC has 713 = 800-476-9653.

 

Great info. I'll jump on that in the morning. Or Monday because nothing will be open tomorrow. Happy fourth🙌

 

anybody ever use one of these polyurethane pieces for the rag joint fix? What's so special about polyurethane?

 

Rag joint, so called because the rubber section was made of bias ply tire carcass that has cloth threads in it.

Auto parts stores sell a replacement disc, but R & R'ing it can be a real b!tch.

 

Is the urathane piece an insert or a complete part?

 

the rag joints original purpose was to break away in case of a head on accident . The older Fords pre 67 had the steering shaft one solid piece out of the steering box , this would impale the driver in a head on accident .

so I would stick with the original design . you can buy the rag joint kit at most auto parts stores in the Help section .

 

I'm not sure how the rag joint would allow the steering shaft to break free in a head on collision? The column flange sits almost on top of the steering box and has pins that keep it aligned. I thought the purpose of the rag joint was to insulate the steering wheel from road vibrations and such.

 

It is definitely a primitive steering damper. Not sure about colapsable shafts in the that old of truck.

 

Steering coupler (rag joint) introduced in 1965 F100/250 2WD, it's the same for 1966 F100/250 2WD before serial number 900,001 (C5TZ-3A525-A - larger locating pin is .41" O.D.).

1966 F100/250 2WD from serial number 900,001, 1967/68 F100/250 2WD use a different steering coupler (C6TZ-3A525-A - larger locating pin is .56" O.D.).

The steering coupler bolts to the flange of the steering shaft, its splined end slides onto the splines of steering gear box' input shaft, a thru bolt and nut retains it in place.

Considering how the coupler is attached, how can it break away in an accident? The 4WD's did not use a steering coupler (rag joint) until 1976.

1966 F100 4WD, 1967/75 F100/250 4WD: The lower steering shaft connects to the input shaft of the steering gear box w/a clamp and thru bolt.

US Gov't mandated collapsible steering columns for cars beginning in 1968, but no F100/350, Bronco or Econoline has a collapsible steering column until 1980.

 

i got that info from the guys over at VMF vintage Mustang forum , they refer to the 65-66 mustang solid steering shaft as the impaler

 

My buddy crashed a 65 mustang and it pushed him to the back seat and bruised his ribs. His passenger received four hundred stitches to his face. **** happens!

 

The later Mustangs, 71 - 73, have a corrugated column tube and breakaway aluminum mounts under the dash to help it not impale you. All cars had solid columns until the early 70's. Just drive careful!

 

I can see how it might work. Since the column and therefore the rag joint are at an angle (guessing 75 degrees from the front) and the force from a head on would be horizontal, the force would work against the rag joint. Not push it up.