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OK I got a situation here and I'm hoping you guys might be able to help. I have a 73 F250 390/C6 2wd column shift, NSS on the lower portion of the column. The shifter broke inside the column. So I got one of those, tilt no key columns off of eBay, but it doesn't have the neutral safety switch mount on it. So what I'm thinking is, put an NSS on the transmission like a car. However my problem is the shift levers will not allow it to mount. I need to figure out what shift levers to get that would allow the NSS to mount to the transmission and still hook to my shift lever. The shaft is long enough but the lever is too close to the housing. I looks like I need some sort of adapter to engage the new switch and possibly remove the spacer and just use my existing shift levers. Anyway I'll attach a photo and hope somebody can point me in the right direction. 73 F250 C6 column shift
Thanks for the reply. I just took it apart and that is what happened. However, I still like that chrome one with the tilt and would like to make it work.
Does the new column have a shifter? The one I bought doesn't and so I've switched to a B&M floor shifter that includes NSS and backup wiring as well as new and different shifter linkage. If you have a shifter, you might be able to use the C6 transmission mounted NSS that came with 78 and 79 Ford trucks.
I got the one with the shifter, eBay link: chrome column In order to use it I'll have to use an after market bracket and the trans mounted NSS. Problem is, which shift lever will work with my set up? The lever is facing forward so the rod goes down to activate it. cars with floor shifter go horizontal so the lever orientation is up or down. I need one that has the lever forward that has the splines for the NSS.
Your problem seems to come up every so often. You have a D3TP-CA manual lever in your trans. It isn't slotted for a trans mounted NSS but it looks like you transmission is drilled for one, lucky you, some are not.
The solution isn't difficult, but not fun either. You need a E0TP-CA manual lever, and it must be bent up about 20 degrees until it is parallel with the pan rail.
This is a picture of a C6 I overhauled awhile back that has an E0TP-CA lever that has been modified.
In order to change one you have to remove the valve body in order to access the 7/8 nut that holds it in.
The levers are furnace brazed to the shaft so when you heat one to bend it you need some wet rags on the shaft or risk melting the brass.
Wow! now that's an answer! Holy cow man, Thank you! Now I get to learn how to remove the old one. I always had manuals so this will be my first time with an automatic. Shouldn't be too hard. Valve body check, 7/8 nut check, keep the brazing cool check. Any idea on part number for the switch? Again, thanks for the photo and the part number
Thanks, Chad
For a C6 you can use a D8TZ-7A247-A, Motorcraft SW-1489 or Standard NS55 neutral safety switch it will also work the reverse lights. The E0TP-CA lever is the one I use because it was used up until the 1990's and used in forklifts long after Ford stopped putting C6's in trucks. So, they are easy to find. There are even some new ones out there. There are a couple of others that will work but they were only used in 78/79 and are too difficult to find.
These are parts that I have used, and I know will work when installing a 78/79 steering column in an older truck that originally had a column mounted NSS.
When I replaced the shift collar on mine after it broke, at some point I then broke the tab that is a clip attached to the tube and works the NSS so for a short time, I used two toggle switches. One for disabling the start function or rather enabling start as desired by the driver (me) at will, and one to activate back up lights at my will. Then I was sent a link for NOS new tabs. Ordered one, it had 2 in the box, snapped in after snapping the old one out.
