steering columns
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
From: mpls. mn.
steering columns
hello boys, i have a 56 f100 that i bought recently. one of the changes i would like to do is the column. right now it has a 95 camaro column with toyota ps. box. being camaro column, it has a b& m floor shift. i would like to change to column shift. any suggestions on columns i could use? thanks
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,734
Likes: 2
From: Kansas City area
The 70's chevy van columns with tilt and shifter are good candidates IF you can find one. They have been so popular with streetrodders that they are getting difficult to find. Of course, Ididit and Flaming River make aftermarket columns for this application also but they are pricey. I ended up using a chrome Ididit column in my 56.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,578
Likes: 208
From: Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Guys,
I have a 1983 Ford Van column in my 55'. A friend of mine removed the switch on the column and took all the lock mechanisms out for me and filled the spot where the key was. I had it painted and it works great. There were two tilt models available in those years. Tilt with O/D on the indicator and Tilt without O/D. This column is similiar to the popular 77-81 CHevy/GMC van columns except it has the key on the column. The 82 to about 90 CHevy Vans are just like the Ford Van column I am mentioning. They have the key on the column. Both of these columns can be had for about 100-130. Those 77-81 are getting hard to find but it can be done. I am a junkyard finding son of a gun. The Interchange range on the Ford Column is 84-91. It has the indicator on the column. Depending on what drivetrain you run you can use the stock shifting linkage like I did on mine. So I hope this helps
I have a 1983 Ford Van column in my 55'. A friend of mine removed the switch on the column and took all the lock mechanisms out for me and filled the spot where the key was. I had it painted and it works great. There were two tilt models available in those years. Tilt with O/D on the indicator and Tilt without O/D. This column is similiar to the popular 77-81 CHevy/GMC van columns except it has the key on the column. The 82 to about 90 CHevy Vans are just like the Ford Van column I am mentioning. They have the key on the column. Both of these columns can be had for about 100-130. Those 77-81 are getting hard to find but it can be done. I am a junkyard finding son of a gun. The Interchange range on the Ford Column is 84-91. It has the indicator on the column. Depending on what drivetrain you run you can use the stock shifting linkage like I did on mine. So I hope this helps
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 932
Likes: 9
From: DFW, TX
Here's a little more info on the GM tilt with no key on the column. Look in 69-72 GM pick-ups, 69-81 GM vans and motorhomes with GM drivetrains up through the 80's. (The years listed above are close, but may not be the exact cut-offs) I picked up a van column a couple of months back for $35 at my local "pull your own."
All of the gear indicator lenses and pointers are available, but as far as I know, the shift lever is not being reproduced and is unique to this style of column. I have read that the "Truck Shop" in Orange, CA is selling a replacement lense for an overdrive, but haven't seen it yet. I had one of these in a '72 Chevy with a 700R4. The gear indicator lined up fine, OD was indicated as D, D as 2, and so on. 1st was at the edge of the lense. NS worked fine.
As mentioned before, they are getting harder to find, but they are out there. If you find a nice truck column, you could probably sell it on e-bay and finance most of your Ididit or FR column!
Good Luck,
Kent
All of the gear indicator lenses and pointers are available, but as far as I know, the shift lever is not being reproduced and is unique to this style of column. I have read that the "Truck Shop" in Orange, CA is selling a replacement lense for an overdrive, but haven't seen it yet. I had one of these in a '72 Chevy with a 700R4. The gear indicator lined up fine, OD was indicated as D, D as 2, and so on. 1st was at the edge of the lense. NS worked fine.
As mentioned before, they are getting harder to find, but they are out there. If you find a nice truck column, you could probably sell it on e-bay and finance most of your Ididit or FR column!
Good Luck,
Kent
Tuned
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 486
Likes: 66
From: South Carolina
One more option if you want to look into and if you're inclined to stay with FORD stuff,is.........I used a 76 Torino tilt column that looks pretty good.
Mike, I just used one of those stick on PRNDL thingys from IDIDIT.
Mike, I just used one of those stick on PRNDL thingys from IDIDIT.
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Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,005
Likes: 2
From: Santa Clarita
I've got an early BMW column (don't ask, that's what I bought it with) or maybe an Audi?????? Anyways, I know it's Made in Germany. I don't know whats involved in transferring the shifting to the column? Seems like it would tough? I have the B&M floor shifter and really like it. It's easy and fun and I think looks nice. I love the ididit columns. Very classic looking. If I were in Kansas, I'd know where to find one that would fit right in on my truck. (leckart)
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Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,074
Likes: 0
From: Northwestern PA
Originally Posted by Purple55
One more option if you want to look into and if you're inclined to stay with FORD stuff,is.........I used a 76 Torino tilt column that looks pretty good.
Mike, I just used one of those stick on PRNDL thingys from IDIDIT.
Mike, I just used one of those stick on PRNDL thingys from IDIDIT.
Thats pretty much the way I was thinking of going, I wasn't sure where to get one, I'll check into Idit
Thanks
Mike
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 495
Likes: 1
From: Somewhere in da corn,Iowa
I used an 84 Chevy fullsize pickup column for my 54. It works great and was just the right length for my truck. As much as I hated to do it, the Chevy column was a better fit than my Ford column I had to. The Chevy column was also a lot easier to wire up and get dress up parts for.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,497
Likes: 5
From: Tucson AZ
I know it's not the cheapest way out, but I really like the Flaming River columns, they really aren't THAT expensive if you have to replace turn sig switches or fix a tilt mechanism. After all, we are all thousandaires. Aren't we? 