Power steering swap not working
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Joined: Mar 2005
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Power steering swap not working
Ok - need some help. Looked at the past posts and thought I had what I needed. Here is the situation. I have a 73 f100- 2WD- 6-cylinder manual column shift. I just bought a 77 F100 - 2wd - 6 cylinder automatic with power steering. From what I read - I thought I should be able to just swap out the center shaft along with the p.s. box, pitman arm, etc. The shaft out of the auto column is shorter, but seems to be about 1/8"-1/4" too short. I can't get the steering wheel nut back on. I've checked to make sure that it is seating properly at the bottom of the column and took the little c-clip off of the automatic column that the manual column did not have. Still - no luck. Is there anything I'm missing here?
Thanks
Brad
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Thanks
Brad
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Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2000
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From: SD
When I did this to my '73 2wd, there was a clamp on the bottom of the steering shaft that needed to be loosened and moved down so the steering wheel would fit. I too was using a shaft from a auto column into my 4spd column. This was several years ago and I've since replaced my column with one from a '77, so I can't even take a picture for you, sorry...
Marty
Marty
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Marty - thanks for the info. So was the clamp on the steering column tube or was it on the steering shaft? There was a little C-clip on the automatic PS shaft that I removed that the manual non-PS shaft did not have. Also - did you swap just the center shaft? From everything I've read - that's all that you have to do. Any other info / ideas would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Brad
Thanks
Brad
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 2,838
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From: SD
The clamp was on the shaft - both the auto and manual shafts had them. Yes I just swapped center shafts and reused the outer column that was in the pickup. My pickup is a '73 F100 2wd 4spd and the parts truck was a '74 F100 2wd auto.
Marty
Marty
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Marty - my manual steering shaft has one on it - but not the power steering shaft I have so I do know what you are referring to. I looked at the situation again this week. I can tell that the PS shaft is seating in the lower column bearing and that is what is preventing it from going up in the tube any further. Do you know if the lower column bearing can be pressed further up into the tube? There appears to be room for it to move further up, but I don't want to tear it trying. I only need about 1/4" to get the steering wheel nut to start.
Thanks
Brad
Thanks
Brad
