New steering column
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Junior User
Joined: Jul 2016
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From: SOUTHERN LOUISIANA
New steering column
As some of you already know I'm currently working on a 76 F100 I got in August. I've just about finished up the complete new wire harness from American Auto wire and am starting to turn my attention to the replacement of the steering column. I've run into a little mystery I'm hoping someone may be able to help me with. Like I stated before its a '76 but it has a 78-79 steering wheel and what appears to me to be a 78-79 shift indicator. It's an auto column shift with a C6 tranny that someone converted from a 3 on the tree standard. Could they have possibly used a 78-79 column on a 76 and if so what would they have had to do to make that swap? Can I get an aftermarket column for a 73-77 and swap it for what I believe to be a 78-79 column in a 76? Is it just a difference in the shift linkage? Please help. I'm completely lost here. 
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Junior User
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 72
Likes: 1
From: SOUTHERN LOUISIANA
78-78 steering wheel?
Shift indicator and column profile
Gear box
Here are some pics that may help the ID. Please let me know if anyone else needs more pics or pics of something else to help in the identification of the column. Thanks
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,219
Likes: 190
From: Colorado Springs
That looks like the correct column, you are missing the metal cover where it meets the dash. Aftermarket columns are ok but what's wrong with that one? You can rebuild them easily and get parts for them. Good luck finding parts for aftermarket columns when they fail. That would look good with the factory GT steering wheel. 78-79 wheels are slightly larger but fit fine, may have to ground the steering wheel horn contact but that's it.
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Junior User
Joined: Jul 2016
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From: SOUTHERN LOUISIANA
I have the column cover just haven't put it back on since I removed and painted the dash. So you think that this column looks like the original from a 76 with just a 78-79 wheel and shift indicator? The column now is so jacked up. Between the wrong wheel, shift indicator, bad shift lever and no neutral safety or backup lamp switch I decided to just start fresh like I did with the wiring harness and not deal with what someone else did.
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Junior User
Joined: Jul 2016
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From: SOUTHERN LOUISIANA
What are some easy and quick ways to tell a 73-77 column from a 78-79 column? What I'm afraid of is when they changed to transmission they somehow forced a 78 column with a/t shift and if I get a column for a 73-77 it won't work because of some wacky things someone may have done to get a 78 to fit. Do I have anything to be concerned about or should a 73-77 column fit in no matter what column was used in the swap?
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Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Simi Valley, CA
What are some easy and quick ways to tell a 73-77 column from a 78-79 column? What I'm afraid of is when they changed to transmission they somehow forced a 78 column with a/t shift and if I get a column for a 73-77 it won't work because of some wacky things someone may have done to get a 78 to fit. Do I have anything to be concerned about or should a 73-77 column fit in no matter what column was used in the swap?
The steering wheel, shift collar are also 1973/77 or 1978/79.
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Junior User
Joined: Jul 2016
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From: SOUTHERN LOUISIANA
Well the steering wheel on mine is a 78-79, the shift collar is a 73-77, and since I've had the truck it hasn't had a neutral safety switch. Where would the NSS be on the column? Maybe I can check to see if there is a sign that there once was one. Also when I ran the new harness the wiring colors from the column match a 73-77 or a 78-79 with speed controls according to the American Auto wire instructions. Thanks
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