1963 f100

Replacing all the wiring. Seems the worst of it is at the column where the wiring comes out. Insulation is brittle and just breaking off.

How do I remove this? Do I need to remove the steering wheel/column shaft cover?

 

Yes. Steering wheel off first, then the turn signal switch. The wiring that comes out of the column is attached to the turn signal switch, so you will need a new one with the wiring.

 

The 1965-66 2WD turn signal switch can be removed and replaced without damaging it - all you have to do is remove the 8 Molex pins from the two connectors at the bottom of the column and after removing the steering wheel you can tie a string to the lower end of the wires and pull them out leaving the string in place - then use the string to pull the wires back down through the column channel to reinstall and plug the Molex connectors back into the two plastic connector ends - not sure if 1963 is the same but it's probably similar. The 4WD trucks (except 1966 F100 4x4 which was same as 2WD) make it super easy since they used a removeable cover that hooked to the side of the column to hide the wires. One clip holds the cover in place. Really easy to swap them out.

 

seems just the main harness side of the wiring was the worst, but I chopped and soldered a few inches from the switch. Easy enough to pull through and back in without the string.

But I do have a question on removing the switch. Once wheel is removed there is a spring around the steering shaft. Then looking at the switch side of things there are 3 screws holding the triangular plates on. The white plastic piece that moves for left and right signals is in the way but the plates can be moved around it and out. The white piece and the curved piece below that (I believe the wiring attaches to it) is held in by a pun and one of those one way circle clips with the multiple fingers on the inside. Looks like the top of the pin is either squashed to hold the circle clip in or the pin slides up and the clip stays on. Either way I can see how to remove it without damaging it.

I believe the turn signal handle is screwed into the switch? Read on the later year f100s there's a slot on the handle to fit a screw driver or wrench in to loosen and tighten it. But I haven't looked yet.

 

For those searching, unscrew the signal handle, and feed some of the wiring, from where it exits the bottom of the steering column, up. Then you should be able to slide the signal switch up and out as well. Not there are 3 screws holding some triangular plates in place. These may need to be removed first. Mine were already out so not sure.