3-Spd Column Shifter
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3-Spd Column Shifter
I've read an article and quite a few posts here about this subject. I bought a bunch of parts to tighten up my shifter. The truck is actually my wifes. She said it is a 63 but according to the "VIN" it's a 65. The weird thing is that it has a motor that was no longer available in 65. It's a 226 c.i. if I remember correctly. Anyway, the shifter is very loose. I have it all apart mostly to replace the plastic thrust washers and spacers that go between the shift levers. When I took it apart, it only had a metal spacer and no plastic thrust washers on the outsides. Then someone tapped a grease zerk in the column so they could just pump it with grease. It's messy. My problem is that with the outer thin thrust washers on the levers there isn't room for the spacer. I can't get all of the plastic in there. How hard should it be to cram it in? I can't even hammer it in. Something will break. The only thing I can think to do now is to sand some material off of the face of the middle spacer until it all fits together. Has anyone ever had to do this before? I can take some pictures this afternoon.
Otherwise the shift tube looks very good like it's been replaced before. I can also tell it's been worked on because they took out the electrical plug and just joined all of the wires. I had to cut them to remover the column.
Otherwise the shift tube looks very good like it's been replaced before. I can also tell it's been worked on because they took out the electrical plug and just joined all of the wires. I had to cut them to remover the column.
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226 I-6 is a flathead last installed in 1951.
223 OHV I-6 1954/64 = Intake/Exhaust manifolds are located on the left (drivers) side.
240/300 OHV I-6 1965/74 = Intake/Exhaust manifolds are located on the right (passenger) side.
I'll post a pic of the steering column once I know which side the manifolds are located.
223 OHV I-6 1954/64 = Intake/Exhaust manifolds are located on the left (drivers) side.
240/300 OHV I-6 1965/74 = Intake/Exhaust manifolds are located on the right (passenger) side.
I'll post a pic of the steering column once I know which side the manifolds are located.
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That's it. The intake and exhaust are on the drivers side and seem to be one part. That exhaust manifold is cracked but I don't have a solution for that that's not way too expensive. Otherwise it runs great. If I could just get the shifter tightened up It would be a joy to drive.
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Did it change in 65? That diagram does look like what I have but the plastic washers (7D363, 7336) weren't in there when I took it apart. There was a metal spacer instead of 7336. Now I have new ones but they won't fit. The stack is too thick. In fact, it won't fit with one of the 7D363 washers and the spacer. It will fit with only the spacer (7336). It should all slide right together, right?
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Did it change in 65? That diagram does look like what I have but the plastic washers (7D363, 7336) weren't in there when I took it apart. There was a metal spacer instead of 7336. Now I have new ones but they won't fit. The stack is too thick. In fact, it won't fit with one of the 7D363 washers and the spacer. It will fit with only the spacer (7336). It should all slide right together, right?
Does 7336 look like the one in the picture in post #4 or does it look like this round one?
Why don't they fit? 1965 and later parts are not the same!
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It's flat like the first diagram (post #4). The shifter arms are flat too. It seems like the stack including the two thin washers (7D363), the shift levers (7302 and 7303) and the spacer (7336) are just too thick to fit in the slot in the column. I'm sure I can flat sand the spacer enough to make it fit but it doesn't seem like anyone has had to do that. Also, it seems to be the same thickness as the metal one that was in there but like i said, the 7D363 washers weren't in there at all when I took it apart.
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1961/64's do not use 7D363 .. There's no parts catalog application for them.
Upper pic: 1957/63 catalog / Lower pic: 1964/72 catalog.
Upper pic: 1957/63 catalog / Lower pic: 1964/72 catalog.
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Heading to Starbucks for coffee, be back in about 20 minutes. email me your phone number: sylhall@aol.com
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Well, I tinkered with it some more now that I know I have mostly the wrong parts. That's disappointing. Now I just have to put it together with whatever I have that will work including mostly the old parts. I swapped the bearing in the housing that holds the blinker assy. Here's what I'm confused about now. Does the column tube just float at the bottom in the engine bay? It doesn't sit down on anything, right?
There's a small rubber grommet the should stick to the bottom of the shifter tube. There's no way that's staying on.
There's a big rubber grommet type thing that goes on the bottom of the column tube. But there's not really anything that centers the shifter tube in the bottom of the column.
I really feel like I've gotten in over my head. I read that there's a lower bearing but I didn't see one.
I guess what doesn't make sense to me is what positions the steering tube on the steering shaft, like how far off of the steering box it goes.
I'd be happy with just getting it back together like It was now.
There's a small rubber grommet the should stick to the bottom of the shifter tube. There's no way that's staying on.
There's a big rubber grommet type thing that goes on the bottom of the column tube. But there's not really anything that centers the shifter tube in the bottom of the column.
I really feel like I've gotten in over my head. I read that there's a lower bearing but I didn't see one.
I guess what doesn't make sense to me is what positions the steering tube on the steering shaft, like how far off of the steering box it goes.
I'd be happy with just getting it back together like It was now.
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Ah, looking at the diagrams again, It looks like the lower bearing and spacer are just on the steering column. I don't think I need to worry about those. The column is not the problem. It's just the shifter that I'm working on. Also, my new bearings are made in China so I don't want to replace a good bearing with one that may not last as long. I did go ahead and replace the upper one. I don't think there was a spring un the upper assembly. I bought a new one so if it's the same for the 63 as it is for the 65 then I'll be able to use it. That may help tighten everything up.
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C3DZ-3517-A .. Steering Column Bearing / Available from Ford & repro parts sellers
B1AZ-3518-A .. Nylon Sleeve-Use with C3DZ-3517-A / Available from Ford & repro parts sellers.
Misc. applications: 1957/64 F100/250 2WD (upper) / 1965/73 F100/250 2WD (upper & lower) // 1965/66 Mustang / 1966/77 Bronco.
B1AZ-3518-A .. Nylon Sleeve-Use with C3DZ-3517-A / Available from Ford & repro parts sellers.
Misc. applications: 1957/64 F100/250 2WD (upper) / 1965/73 F100/250 2WD (upper & lower) // 1965/66 Mustang / 1966/77 Bronco.
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C3DZ-3517-A .. Steering Column Bearing / Available from Ford & repro parts sellers
B1AZ-3518-A .. Nylon Sleeve-Use with C3DZ-3517-A / Available from Ford & repro parts sellers.
Misc. applications: 1957/64 F100/250 2WD (upper) / 1965/73 F100/250 2WD (upper & lower) // 1960/65 Falcon/Comet / 1962/65 Fairlane / 1965/66 Mustang /
B1AZ-3518-A .. Nylon Sleeve-Use with C3DZ-3517-A / Available from Ford & repro parts sellers.
Misc. applications: 1957/64 F100/250 2WD (upper) / 1965/73 F100/250 2WD (upper & lower) // 1960/65 Falcon/Comet / 1962/65 Fairlane / 1965/66 Mustang /
) and nylon sleeves, I just expected one set to be near the steering wheel and one to be near the base of the column but on this old 63 it seems that they both go somewhere near the steering wheel.
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You can see in this pic that there's only one bearing (3517) and sleeve (3518), located in the upper flange (3511).
Pic is from 1957/63 catalog, same pic in 1964/72 catalog for 1964.
Pic is from 1957/63 catalog, same pic in 1964/72 catalog for 1964.
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I see what you mean. I guess the column tube is only really held in place by the bracket that mounts to the firewall. This helps. I'm going to try to get this thing back together this afternoon. I think there may be other parts I need to really get it shifting just right but once I get it back together I will be able to take it apart again in no time.