I've got a not-so-gently aging van, 1990 with the E4OD transmission, tilt steering, and cruise control on the steering wheel (along with the horn). It has two significant problems:
1. The ignition switch is kinda broken and won't move the pull rod along the steering column to move the actual ignition switch which (as I understand) is farther down the column. I've been working around that using a "handle" on the tie rod attached with a tiny hose clamp to start/stop the vehicle for a few years.
2. NOW, the gear shift will NOT leave park. (In order to drive home, I had the linkage disconnected at the transmission, but reaching under the van to shift the transmission isn't exactly fun.

I'm looking for a replacement steering column which will (hopefully) have both a shifter and an ignition switch that I can just replace. And hopefully with all the rest of the same stuff too.

How big a job is that, and are there any complicated/difficult parts I need to know about? I'm mechanically inclined but not a great auto mechanic, and I've never done anything much like this before.

Anybody seen a video of this job? One auto recycler I called said that this was the same from 1982 to 1991, which sounds reasonable but I don't have other confirmation.

THANKS!

 

It is sixes replacing your column or fixing yours
Yours needs an ignition switch actuator et a;. parts to fix
The column is easy to replace. You start with disconnecting the battery then the ignition switch wiring connector
Remove the column lower cover, and the shrouds
Pry off the shift cable from the post and remove it from the bracket by depressing the little tab
Then disconnect the air bag clockspring and cruise wiring on the right hand side
Remove the bolt /nut from the lower intermediate steering shaft at the bottom of the column, and pull the shaft down and away
Remove the nuts from the column mount and lower / remove the column
Good lick

 

Sounds doable, but airbag???

I am quite sure that there isn’t one!

That might be why they change one year later—probably as of 1992 it was changed to allow for the airbag.

 

Air bag is no big deal
In the beginning (1986 or so), they had us find and disconnect the backup power supply (which was the blue air bag module itself)
In later years they just had us disconnect the battery
Now days I do neither
They do not go off on their own by static or other means
Simply remove and disconnect the air bag when you need to
Good luck

 

OK, I've got it most of the way out, and I'm struggling. (Side note: There is no airbag in this vehicle! Never was, no place to put one in either!). Anyhow, here's where I'm at:
There is an aluminum(?) bracket holding it to the dashboard area, two bolts. I've removed the bolts, it is free.
There is a hose clamp by the floor gasket area, I've got it pretty loose, and the column will pull out somewhat.
The gasket, something like rubber coated stamped steel has three bolts holding it to the floor; they were incredibly tight but I got those bolts out too.

There is a tie rod type linkage going from a short lever arm attached to the steering column just below the floor on underneath to the transmission. This one has me scratching my head. Access to it is pretty bad with the 7.3L diesel shoehorned into the van engine compartment. I can kinda get at it from the inside (doghouse removed) and kinda get at it from below, but neither is good or easy to see, and I'm unsure how this connection works.

Anybody got a description of how it is attached and how I disconnect it Also how I re-connect it to the new (to me) steering column?

 

^^^You'd do well supplying some photos of what or where you're having issues.

 

You just pop that cable off the stud
The stud is rounded on the end, making it easy to pop off and push back on

 

so my first issue is disconnecting the transmission shifting arm from the tie rod. Once I do that, I’m not sure if the steering will disconnect and everything will come out freely or not, but that is clearly necessary.

As suggested, pix:

This is a view of the arm on the column attached to a tie rod. Unfortunately it is awful access but I snuck my phone in to get a pic.

These two pix are of equivalent steering columns on eBay showing the “flange” that covers the hole in the floor and parts below it including the arm and other stuff.

 

I looked through my 88 service manual and it doesn't give detailed instructions except to "remove the shiftier rod".
In my experience you should be able to use a long screw driver or small pry bar between the rod and lever arm (green arrow) and pop the rod out of the grommet. Another way would be to use a long handle pair of needle noise pliers, maybe even bent noise pliers, on the rod at the red arrow and backside of the lever arm to pop the rod out.
Try a little spray cleaner followed by some lubricant first. There are replacement bushings also.

My manual being for a 88 econoline only shows the AOD linkage and the instructions again are vague. It says nothing about removing the snifter lever arm but just to pull the column out once you have everything loose.




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Ah. farther down the page was a diagram showing a special tool for the shifter arm removal and instillation. I have seen other similar tools. Do a search on shifter grommet tool. BUT I believe you can do it without the tool. It's just a bit more work!

 

Use some lube and a big screwdriver. It just pops off with mighty force
Going back together you need lube and big channel locks

 

You need to be as strong as King Kong to successfully use those special pliers

 

Success … mostly.

Getting the shift linkage off the steering column and getting it disconnected at the bottom was a job worth getting a professional in for, but I call it done. Except that one annoying thing….

The shift indicator needle is shifted somewhere between half a gear and a gear and a half toward park. It doesn’t even get down to 1, past 2. (It does go into P, R, N, and D for sure, no matter what the needle says)

I should check if the backup lights go on when it is in reverse. (Will mention later when I check it!)

 

Problem solved. One spot under the van has an adjustable point in the transmission control linkage, and less than a half hour of fussing with it had the gear indicator aligned with the transmission shift positions as good as new. (Well, now that I think about it, it was always kinda sloppy but I could get through all the gears easily enough)