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I need some help identifying the steering column in my '64 F100 Frankentruck, it might not even be a Ford column. I want to get the correct shifter arm for it and connect it to my C4 trans. I've got all of the linkage for the bottom end it's just the arm I'm after. Got any idea Cropduster and TA455HO, you guys are pretty sharp! Any help is good help.
Well, the steering wheel has been changed and it's clearly missing the column shift lever on the right side, but I do think I recognize that one. 1979 Ford Country Squire Ltd. I believe.
Well, the steering wheel has been changed and it's clearly missing the column shift lever on the right side, but I do think I recognize that one. 1979 Ford Country Squire Ltd. I believe.
Same column as the Truckster.
Thanks, I knew I could count on you or CROPDUSTER to ID my column.
I have no clue to what that came out of. TA could be right. I do know that even if you found a shift lever the odds of it working correctly with your transmission are about zero. One way to tell if it might be a Ford is you have to push forward on the turn signal switch lever to unlock the tilt. Ford used the exact same tilt mechanism on everything trucks,vans,cars up into the 1980's.
I have no clue to what that came out of. TA could be right. I do know that even if you found a shift lever the odds of it working correctly with your transmission are about zero. One way to tell if it might be a Ford is you have to push forward on the turn signal switch lever to unlock the tilt. Ford used the exact same tilt mechanism on everything trucks,vans,cars up into the 1980's.
Thanks for the input Cropduster!
Here's where I'm at I.D.ing this column, I'm guessing 60's because there's no ignition switch in it, and I'm also guessing GM because of the cruise control button on the left and the flasher switch on the right. I think I can get the linkage working underneath, I've got the "Z bar" assembly with rods from a '64 F100 auto trans truck, a Lokar C4 linkage kit and I'm pretty good at fabricating. If I can't find a shifter arm that'll work in the collar I'll just go to plan B and buy a Lokar floor shifter and be done with it. The challenge of getting the column shifter working is intriguing though!
Here are the difficulties people run into swapping in an auto trans unless they source everything from a donor truck.
The manual lever (shift lever) on the transmission isn't correct for a truck. There are dozens of different ones depending on the vehicle the trans came from.
The detents in the steering column don't correspond to the detents in the transmission. Ford tilt columns have removable detents if it is for a truck, the detent plate will be stamped TRK on the back.
No provision for a neutral safety switch.
Wiring between the column and the truck. Thats a whole topic of its own.
My advice, find a Ford truck column for a floor shift and use a Lokar floor shifter.
I will disagree with the brain trust on the identification. I believe it to be a GM van tilt column. They were once upon a time very plentiful in junk yards and very popular for conversion in custom applications for their lack of extra wiring and no ignition switch. This let guys use their original wiring and dash ignition key and switch, and have a nice, clean tilt column for their hot rod. GM built them up into the 70's. It's the column all the aftermarket ones were patterned after when supply started to dry up.
If it's installed and working, I wouldn't swap it out for something else and have to start over with the engineering. I would agree that trying to invent a linkage to match the shifter detents with the trans detents may be an effort in futility, especially with parts and handles missing. No telling if anything is broken inside until you jump in there. I'd be tempted to go with the Lokar floor shifter, like you mentioned, and grind off the handle nub and fill with JB Weld or similar to smooth it out. It's been done many times.
Yesterday I bought an NOS 1964 only under dash wiring harness for a 6 & 8 cylinder with alternator instead of a generator. I'll admit I was celebrating just a bit with a cold beverage, and my post was an attempt at humor that fell flat. @52 Merc has you covered it sounds like.
Yesterday I bought an NOS 1964 only under dash wiring harness for a 6 & 8 cylinder with alternator instead of a generator. I'll admit I was celebrating just a bit with a cold beverage, and my post was an attempt at humor that fell flat. @52 Merc has you covered it sounds like.
After going back and re-reading your original post I had a good laugh! Nice pic of the Family Truckster though.
I will disagree with the brain trust on the identification. I believe it to be a GM van tilt column. They were once upon a time very plentiful in junk yards and very popular for conversion in custom applications for their lack of extra wiring and no ignition switch. This let guys use their original wiring and dash ignition key and switch, and have a nice, clean tilt column for their hot rod. GM built them up into the 70's. It's the column all the aftermarket ones were patterned after when supply started to dry up.
If it's installed and working, I wouldn't swap it out for something else and have to start over with the engineering. I would agree that trying to invent a linkage to match the shifter detents with the trans detents may be an effort in futility, especially with parts and handles missing. No telling if anything is broken inside until you jump in there. I'd be tempted to go with the Lokar floor shifter, like you mentioned, and grind off the handle nub and fill with JB Weld or similar to smooth it out. It's been done many times.
I think you nailed it 52 Merc! I did a search on eBay for the van columns and they look just like mine. If I could just find the shifter arm....
Yesterday I bought an NOS 1964 only under dash wiring harness for a 6 & 8 cylinder with alternator instead of a generator. I'll admit I was celebrating just a bit with a cold beverage, and my post was an attempt at humor that fell flat. @52 Merc has you covered it sounds like.
I wouldn't say it fell flat...I was just looking for Clark, and wondering if that is granny under the cover on the roof.
I think you nailed it 52 Merc! I did a search on eBay for the van columns and they look just like mine. If I could just find the shifter arm....
I'm guessing if you hit up the repro parts places that specialize in GM parts, they're probably reproduced. It likely interchanges with cars and/or trucks of the era. GM was way better than Ford about making one part fit more than one vehicle.
I will suggest looking closely at the shifter boss for cracking or wallowed out holes. The pin hole takes a beating and commonly cracks there, rendering that sleeve useless.
I'm guessing if you hit up the repro parts places that specialize in GM parts, they're probably reproduced. It likely interchanges with cars and/or trucks of the era. GM was way better than Ford about making one part fit more than one vehicle.
I will suggest looking closely at the shifter boss for cracking or wallowed out holes. The pin hole takes a beating and commonly cracks there, rendering that sleeve useless.
Thanks, I did find the shifter and pin at LMC. My shifter boss looks good so I went ahead and bought the parts. Again, thanks for the help everyone!
I have no clue to what that came out of. TA could be right. I do know that even if you found a shift lever the odds of it working correctly with your transmission are about zero. One way to tell if it might be a Ford is you have to push forward on the turn signal switch lever to unlock the tilt. Ford used the exact same tilt mechanism on everything trucks,vans,cars up into the 1980's.
