Good morning all. I am rebuilding my 65 F100 1/2 ton long bed truck which I cut down to a short bed truck. I did a lot of upgrading on it years many ago. Added power steering, power brakes, power windows. Took the 300 6 out and installed 302 with 4 barrel edelbrock 600 cfm carb. Took the 3 speed out and installed a 78 Lincoln FMX trans. I have stripped the truck down to the frame. Doing some metal repair to the cab mounts and core mounts. A lot of pitting in the mounts. Replace the front axels with 76 f100 axels with disc brake setup. What I need is a couple of things. One is an alternative tilt steering column. I have a floor shifter now and would like to stay with that. Number two is another bed. Seems like mother nature has rusted it out pretty good for me. There is more to come. I am sure of that.

 

No 1970's Lincoln had a FMX. Lincoln/Mark III/IV/V had a C6, 1977/79 Versailles had a C4.

 

Lied to again. Go figure. All I know it is one heavy SOB.

 

Any Help on what I can use for a tilt steering on this truck? I read a bunch of articles about77-78 or I think 78-79 tilt steering columns but everybody says they break a lot. Is that true?

 

That would be a C6

 

I have a 79 tilt column in my 65. The only reason I used it was it came with the truck. The Ididit would be a better choice if you don't have a good column already. The turn signal switch alone in those Ford tilt columns costs nearly half what a new Ididit column costs. As far as breaking a lot that is probably because most of the columns out there already have a couple of hundred thousand miles on them and have never been rebuilt.

 

It is just hard breaking open the wallet for that much money !!!

 

Well look at it this way. A rebuilt 1979 tilt column that will fit your truck is going to cost $500+. A worn out used one probably $100 to 300. And then you are going to have to find parts for it and other than a few bearings and the turn signal switch they ain't easy to find. I figure it's going to cost you $500 + whether you do it the easy way or the hard way. Also keep in mind that if you get one from a 4WD you are going to have to come up with a rag joint adaptor for it. Good luck with that.

 

Yah I know. But that is down the road a piece. Weather here has been cold. Have not been able to work on it for two weeks. But starting tomorrow I will be back on it.

 

You ain't kidden. I've burned a ton of coal at the shop already. Usually I can get to February before I have to resupply. Anything above 20 is going to seem like a heat wave.

 

It has been pretty cold here. But starting tomorrow it will be about 40. up to 60 by wednesday

 

The beginning of a lot of money !!!

 

I saw a picture of the rolling chassis you have. I see you added a sway bar and power steering. You also added a cooler for your power steering. I have had power steering in my truck for years. Do not have a cooler on it. why did you add one to your truck?

 

Because the headers are real close to the steering box and will transfer a lot of heat to the box and the fluid. It might not have been necessary but it was easy to add on.

 

I'm using a long bed step side and cutting it down.