F-100 Steering Column
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F-100 Steering Column
My 1970 F-100 shifting mechanism has worn out. 3-speed, gear shift is on the steering column. From time to time, it will not move smoothly from one gear to another and it gets stuck in one of the forward gears. Have to go under the hood and manually move the gears back to the neutral position. It appears that the traditional "H" pattern has shrunk so the movement from R-1 through neutral to 2-3 is much too small a distance. I imagine I need a replacement steering column. I have not found a source for these parts. Any advice? Thanks.
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Joined: Dec 2009
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From: NorCal
My 1970 F-100 shifting mechanism has worn out. 3-speed, gear shift is on the steering column. From time to time, it will not move smoothly from one gear to another and it gets stuck in one of the forward gears. Have to go under the hood and manually move the gears back to the neutral position. It appears that the traditional "H" pattern has shrunk so the movement from R-1 through neutral to 2-3 is much too small a distance. I imagine I need a replacement steering column. I have not found a source for these parts. Any advice? Thanks.
Hang out and.......... ooops too late.. looks like you logged out. That's lame. Must not be that important.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
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From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
fish1940 Welcome to 
and the Bumpside Forum 
Until you get it rebuilt I might suggest what worked for me. When in 1st lift the lever with a slight pull back to the wheel going a little high like going to reverse and let it drop fully then lift to 2nd.
While we think we are using the H pattern we may be more N. Used to work for me before I chucked the 3 spd for an automatic.
John
and the Bumpside Forum Until you get it rebuilt I might suggest what worked for me. When in 1st lift the lever with a slight pull back to the wheel going a little high like going to reverse and let it drop fully then lift to 2nd.
While we think we are using the H pattern we may be more N. Used to work for me before I chucked the 3 spd for an automatic.
John
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Joined: Jan 2011
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From: missouri
it could help you for a little while if you adjust the shift linkage .. place trans in neutral then loosen the adjusting nuts, place a drill bit (3/16th - 1/4?) thru the holes in both arms on the lower end of the column to center them, then re-tighten the adjusting nuts.. it may help till you get time to rebuild the column and re-place the trans. shift arms bushings
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Simi Valley, CA
At the 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 and insulator. The rubber bushings age crack/disintegrate, causing the shift lever to bind up.
C5TZ-7343-A .. Bushing & Insulator Kit / Obsolete
1965/72 F100/250 3 M/T
GREEN SALES CO. in Cincinnati OH has 4 = 800-543-4959.
CARPENTER NOS OBSOLETE PARTS in Concord NC has 4,066 = 800-476-9653.
In each lever is a rubber bushing and insulator. The rubber bushings age crack/disintegrate, causing the shift lever to bind up.
C5TZ-7343-A .. Bushing & Insulator Kit / Obsolete
1965/72 F100/250 3 M/T
GREEN SALES CO. in Cincinnati OH has 4 = 800-543-4959.
CARPENTER NOS OBSOLETE PARTS in Concord NC has 4,066 = 800-476-9653.
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Additional information. With the truck parked and engine not running, if i wiggle the shifting lever, the cowling on the steering column right behind the steering wheel has significant wiggle/movement. The entire cowling will freely move toward/from the foot petals (down the shaft) . I assume that something inside this cowling has worn out. There is too much play with the shift lever. This play does not seem to affect the movement of the gear levers at the bottom of the steering column where the bushings are located.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 789
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From: Durham, NC
I converted to a floor shifter using Hurst brand like 20 years ago with my '76. Think it cost me around $60. The same kit today sells for around $300 on Summit Racing. It's a very dependable setup but has become VERY costly??? And you have to cut up the floor pan to get it in (of course). And it's not a stock item. So depending on your situation...
But I put well over 200k+ on that setup (300k+ total on truck) and banged the crap out of it before designating it my pure trash haul off truck 5 miles round trip. And even that is scary now days for the entire truck needs a total rebuild... But the floor shifter never skipped a beat.
Just a thought before spending on something that will eventually go bad again.
But I put well over 200k+ on that setup (300k+ total on truck) and banged the crap out of it before designating it my pure trash haul off truck 5 miles round trip. And even that is scary now days for the entire truck needs a total rebuild... But the floor shifter never skipped a beat.
Just a thought before spending on something that will eventually go bad again.
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From: Phoenix, Az.
Additional information. With the truck parked and engine not running, if i wiggle the shifting lever, the cowling on the steering column right behind the steering wheel has significant wiggle/movement. The entire cowling will freely move toward/from the foot petals (down the shaft) . I assume that something inside this cowling has worn out. There is too much play with the shift lever. This play does not seem to affect the movement of the gear levers at the bottom of the steering column where the bushings are located.
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From: Simi Valley, CA
1960/65 Falcon/Comet / 1961/66 F100/250 2WD / 1962/65 Fairlane/Meteor / 1966 F100 4WD / 1966/77 Bronco / 1967/77 F100/250 / 1973/77 Econoline.
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F100 Steering Column Replacement
Since this is an old 1970 F100 truck, the floor pan/firewall is not in good shape. No rust holes, but it might spell problems for removal of the steering column. Does the column run through the firewall where the metal might be reinforced? Or, does the column run through a specially designed removable firewall panel? Is it possible that the firewall will be damaged when I remove the column? (Note: I already have replaced the two forward cab supports due to rust and metal failure.)
