Thanks Jeff, you are right about the air bag. They should put fun bags in the steering wheel then I'd smile if it went off

 

Complete with confetti?
At least it's not a nag bag.

 

If your column has a Hazard switch on the right side and a 10-pin gray TS harness connector (unless the connector was cut off and the wires butchered to tie into the existing wiring harness), then it would be a Dentside column.

It may be hard to determine exactly what year model the column is from but, there are two features that would help narrow down the year range it came from. The 1st feature to look for would be if it has an NSS switch on top of the column tube, inside the cab, near the firewall (if a person has an automatic transmission with an automatic steering column --IF a person has a STANDARD transmission and the applicable column, this would NOT apply to them). The 2nd feature to look for would be the number of horn contacts under the steering wheel (the steering wheel MAY have to be pulled to see them).

The automatic transmission columns in the Bumpside trucks and the Dentsides through 1977 will have the NSS on top of the column tube. In '78/'79, the NSS was removed from the columns and mounted on the side of the automatic transmission. --again, if you have a standard transmission and the correct column, this wouldn't apply to you.

In 1978, the Dentside TS switches went from a 1-wire horn contact to a 2-wire horn contact. So, if your column is for a standard transmission, the NSS would not apply but, if there's only one horn contact under the wheel, the column is from a '73-'77 model. If there are 2 horn contacts, the column is from a '78/'79 model.

My '78 tilt wheel column has the two horn contacts. However, I only used one of the contacts for the horn (the one with the dark blue wire). I left the other contact (yellow wire) free (for future use) to be the means to send the signals to a cruise (speed) control module when I put cruise control in my truck, that I pirated from a '90 Mustang GT.



'87-'89 Mustang cruise control buttons/'89 Saleen Mustang CC switch mounting bracket mounted to the Momo steering wheel --the switches are not presently connected to anything --more like steering wheel ornaments at the moment, until they are functional. That will be after the SEFI engine is installed.



According to some information, steering wheel/shaft splines changed in 1979.

 

Thanks Steve I plan on taking it apart tomorrow. I will do some measurements and check out the TS switch contacts. My guess is pre 77

 

Well I just got an e-mail from them and was quoted $150 for the flange tube extension I think the ebay search is a better deal as I will not have to modify the column.

 

This past Saturday, when my buddy and I were at the wrecking yard, I spied a long bed baby blue '78 F100 with a nearly mint tilt column in it. I was just getting ready to get my tools out to start pulling it when the wrecking yard owner came up and said he wasn't parting that truck out. ($#!+). I was thiiiiis close to getting that column!

 

Steve I have decoded the column and discovered it is a 74 but not a PS model. I have located a PS one on ebay for a reasonable price but it is a 4X4 column and has no rag joint on it. Is it worth removing the rag flange from the one I have? I figure this will be the least cost for me as the column on ebay appears to be in fairly good condition compared to the one that I have now. I will post up the details and photos of my finding of disassembly of my current one.

 

The Dentside manual steering column is long just like the Bumpside manual steering column.
The end of the column shaft, where the rag joint flange is (on the manual column) is splined, as is the flange but, the flange is crimped onto the shaft from the factory and isn't meant to come off --it was a struggle with my 20-ton press to remove the flange from the shaft of my '69 manual column.

After I removed the flange from my '69 manual column, I was going to try and use it on my '78 tilt column (since the correct bolted rag joint flange for the splined steering shaft didn't come with my tilt). I put the '69 flange on the '78 shaft and connected up the new $50 dollar rag joint only to realize that wasn't safe and wasn't going to work. I took the flange and the rag joint off and installed a 3/4"-36 x 3/4"-36 Borgeson splined U-joint instead.

You can see the stainless steel Borgeson joint here.


I've never dealt with a 4x4 column so, I don't know exactly what would need to be done with it, compared to a column meant for a 2WD.

 

Thanks for the reply Steve. My current column has the rag joint flange welded on. I figure this was done when the column was replaced by the PO when changing out the column. I will most likely have to go with the Borgeson unit as I don't like dangerous and unsafe steering.

 

So here is the column and disassembly.
#1 Hacked up wiring.



#2 Remove steering wheel. This column I think is a 1974 the steering shaft had a snap ring holding the shaft into the column tube.



#3 Turn signal and Hazard switch is on complete assembly held in by 4 Phillips screws. (I fear taking this apart would require 4 china men to reassemble it. )



#4 Pulled the wiring hackery apart and confirmed wiring. Then removed the TS and Hazard switch assembly with wiring attached from the column. Found first evidence of it age via a ford part # sticker. d3ta-13b302-a6



#5 measured steering shaft 34". This is not a PS column
#6 Removed the (2) 7/16" socket sized nuts holding the TS housing to the column.



#7 Look what we have here a Ford part #



#8 Removed the shifter tube. That one was made in Canada.



#9 Measured the column housing 30 7/16" Yep a manual steering column in my power steering truck.

The lower part where the plastic bushing is beat up and I discovered that the rag joint flange is welded to the steering shaft.







I feel like Sherlock Holmes.

I was going to purchase a NOS column extension but the price came in at $150 + S&H. So I opted for an ebay manual steering column from a 76. for $120 + S&H. We will have to see the condition when it get here in about a week.

 

That make me Watson?
D3TA13B302AB= D3TZ13341A. 73/77 F100/350-M.T., 73/77 E100/350-M.T., M450/550 with std steering. Discontinued but a gazillion places still show it. Including Green Sales. Once I see the condition of the switch in the replacement column I'll post who has it if needed.

 

Surprisingly the self canceling and hazard switch work well. There was an extra wire not connected from the column it was white with red stripe.

 

White/red stripe wire goes to the emergency flasher.

 

Look what the mail man dropped off today.



Not perfect but it will do. It is the correct length The wiring leaves a little to be desired though. Notice the missing coating on the blue wire.



Difference between the lower bushings is drastic.

Old



New




The self canceling doesn't appear to work and the upper bearing is a little sketchy.

 

Good news is that the wiring and canceling are both part of the T/S switch in your original column. And the bearing is still available from Ford. Part number C3DZ3517A.