Does anyone have info on changing out or swapping the steering colum and wheel? What is a straight swap for these? and .... I cannot get my heater to work, changed cores and put in a 86 escort core and still no heat. Anyone ever ran across this problem? My engine temp runs about 180 degrees. It is a 144in.

Freezing in Calif!

Cowkicker59

 

sorry cowkicker, this one slipped by me!

the only direct swap for the column is an econo. nothing else will work.
if you just want a differant wheel, most any older ford will fit the shaft.

now to the hard one. are you getting any flow thru the core? are the hoses warm at the core?
do you have the door open for the core to get air, or is it stuck shut?
is the valve opening, and is it clear?
so many things can cause no heat, and the heaters dont work that great any way.

 

Thanks Jim, I pulled the original core out and put a "86" escort in, still no heat. I then pulled the top water supply line off at the water pump and there was no flow. I then stuck a screw driver in the outlet and water began to flow. I put it all back together and it stopped again. Has anyone here used any after mkt heaters that produce sufficient heat? That is with the econoline P/U.

Cowkicker59

 

It seems like you need to have your cooling system flushed. It sounds like you got a lot of scale and debris in the system. Have it flushed and then you might get heat. The down side is after a flush you may find leaks in the rads or heater cores. But they will be cleared of scale and stuff that impedes the floe of coolant.

Now your steering column. You have to remove the wheel and the metal bracket at the column. You will have to pull back the rubber flooring the unbolt the metal tube from the column. You will also have remove the grill to get at the linkages and other bolts to remove the column. You will be surprise to find a grease nipple on the shifter. This does not get greased enough and the shifter parts wear into the metal shifting rod. I took mine and had it built back up.No more loose play in the shifter. Everything slips in better.
Now my econoline is parked til I can do a full restore on it.
I have shop manuals for a 61 and 65 econolines.
The steering box has a long metal rod that goes up the steering tube and it is a part of the steering box.
Good luck.

 

sounds like you have a chunk of silicone in there cowkicker, some people think a lot is better than a little for some reason.

 

Thanks "66gpw" and Jim. Jim I think you are right about the silecone. I remember my 63 ford van didn't give off much heat either. I gave my daughter a ride home from school last week and when I asked her if she was cold, she said yes. I asked her if she wanted some heat, and with that I popped open the dog-house. I was told by my wife later that I am not allowed to give her a ride from or to school anymore! After all she has to keep her dignity!

66GPW; thanks for that detail on the shifting block, I was looking the other day for a port but gave up when I couldn't locate one. Anyone know the fuel capacity for a 63 econo e-100 ?

Jim you mentioned a syncroed 3-speed tranny exchange, is there a particular name or brand of tranny that it goes by?

Thanks all! and Merry Christmas, that is if I am allowed to say that!

Cowkicker59

 

bah humbug! there, i got to say it first.

fuel capacity is about 13 gallons, should be about 250 miles on a tank. [i get almost 300]

the tranny is a late 62 and up econo only.
the synchro tranny has a top cover, instead of a side cover. i beleive it is a 303 trans.

 

Thanks Jim! You scrooge! LOL! Hey how much would it change the weight ratio of this econoline P/U if the gas tank is removed from the rear underneath and placed under a tool box behind the cab? I was wondering if the shift in weight or ballance of weight will create any problems in breaking or steering. I am placing the spare underneath in place of the tank. Thinking about increasing the size of the tank as well. * How do you get the extra 50 miles a tank? By installing tuned exhaust?

Better be carefull, you might be visited by three Econoline spirits on Christmas eve!


Cowkicker59 Dennis W.

 

i got something for the christmas spirits!

as for the fuel tank in the bed, wweeeelllllll, i have never liked the idea, but that doesnt mean it is not a good idea. they make fuel tank/ tool box combos, so it is doable for sure.

as for the weight differance, i dont remember what gas weighs but i know you spare isnt as heavy. might not be a bad deal tho, and i am sure it wouldnt make that much difference in the handling.

on the tranny deal, it is a little more complicated than i made it sound. the tranny has to come from an econo of course, and it has to be from the same series. [i.e. 61-64, or 65-67.] because of the mount difference. it also has to match the drive shaft and rear end. the 7- and 7 1/4 use a little u joint, and the 9 in. uses a larger joint. the non synchro has a slip yoke, and the synchro has a bolt on yoke, so you will have to have the shaft too. if you find one in a van or truck with a 9 in. get the rear end too. you will be happier with it.

how hard was the escort core to fit in the econo heater housing?

 

I don't know if there is room for the gas tank to be moved. You got the tranny mount there and the diffy is only a short distance away and it may bang into the tank.
A truck I bought here from our insurance as a right off. Whoever had it installed 2 tanks from a Toyota truck on top of the wheel wells to the cab. He had a small platform built and enclosed. Then a 3 way switch for the tanks.(still had the rear tank in. Now he sure could travel long distances with this.)
Whoever he was he got a good settlement from insurance. They paid him nearly $5000. for the truck. He had a recent paint job. Under the paint was a lot of bondo and rust hole covered over with the cardboard from store shelf packets that were then covered with spray on undercoating. He pulled one over on them. They did not look close enough. I got the truck for $300. Parts only, too much rust and damage from accident.
Those heaters in these truck are not very warm. When I drove my 64. The floor mounted heater did not do much to warm up the truck. Part of the problem someone removed the insulation in the front of the cab. When I get around to restore it I plan on also insulating the back of the cab around the engine. I find these trucks lack in that area and thus are colder. I saw another fella here with the same problem in heating and he mounted a second heater on the front of the doghouse, so he would have 2 heaters going.
I been told the 65 trucks have better heaters because they are below the dash and give heat to the glass quicker and to the floor better.
Mine even had the core redone and it still did not heat the truck much.
So a secondary heater maybe mounted on the doghouse or on the floor behind one of the seats may help warm your bodies up.

 

66gpw;

Thanks for the info, I wish I had that insurance company, I probably would have only gotten 2.00 dollars if it was me!


Jim;
I had to cut a small strap between the two tubes and laid it in at an angle. It leaves just enough room for the fan to be bolted in. I did however have to use a few plastic fittings to fit the hose size difference as well as the angle of the tubes. Now that I know my original core is ok, I am putting it back in and keeping this escort core as a back up.

Now I am trying to find an original gas gauge, know of any reliable sources? Watch those christmas spirits Jim, they can get mean the following morning! LOL!

Cowkicker

 

i think macs sells them, both nos and repop. ebay has some every now and then. is your gauge bad? or is it the sending unit, or the wire?
make sure there is a ground wire from the body to the sending unit too!

 

Jim;
There is a brand new sending unit but the gauge itself is missing. Will the engine heat gauge work If I use it as a fuel gauge? I know probably a dumb question. But both gauges look the same and work off of current , right? Thanks for the info on the tranny, thats what I will do, if I can find a whole unit that is!

Cowkicker

 

temp guage should work. the same guage with a different face.

 

Awesome dude! That will work! And the "escort core" was a quick job, not much time at all! The only set back is the close tollerance as far as the amount of space between the fan cylinder (motor draw) and the floating core. This core has no mounting area and rests , in a tilted position. Thanks again Jim! (fix yur puter yet?)

Cowkicker