Doing the conversion
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Fort Rucker, AL
Doing the conversion
So, my steering coupling from the steering column to the gear box stripped out. I decided that this would be a good time to convert over to power steering. Oh, I have a '69 with 3 on the tree. The donor is a '76 that HAD 3 on the tree but didn't at the time of the stripping. The gear box is the Saginaw, the long, gaulky one, so I have to change out the steering column. It's all laid out on my bench, completely tore apart, both columns. I took the gear guts out my original to put in the donor one and wouldn't you know it, my gear guts are too long. It just didn't dawn on me that if a steering column is too long, then everything in it will be, too. I said all that to say this, I guess I'm up the proverbial creek unless I can find a truck that had power steering using the Saginaw box and 3 on the tree. Is this a correct assumption? I'm just about to let my hair grow out so I can pull it. 
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,613
Likes: 6
From: Coal country
You have it right.
And, don't count on finding a 3 speed column shift with power steering. I searched for 5 years up and down the Atlantic seabord, and never found one.
That problem is one of the reasons I decided to convert to an automatic transmission, as the short columns were easy to find.
And, don't count on finding a 3 speed column shift with power steering. I searched for 5 years up and down the Atlantic seabord, and never found one.
That problem is one of the reasons I decided to convert to an automatic transmission, as the short columns were easy to find.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
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From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
John da Picker, now from Maryland, There are some out there, and it may take some luck to find it. I haven't been in a while but there is a little yard in NC that had three in it about 2 years ago. Farmers were the ones that used them most. Folks didn't trust the automatic tranny back then.
If your truck is all laid up and being held up by the steering column you could get in a tizzy about it, but if you have the time the small older rual yards might be holding one for you.
happy hunting
John
If your truck is all laid up and being held up by the steering column you could get in a tizzy about it, but if you have the time the small older rual yards might be holding one for you.
happy hunting
John
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Fort Rucker, AL
Originally Posted by jowilker
John da Picker, now from Maryland, There are some out there, and it may take some luck to find it. I haven't been in a while but there is a little yard in NC that had three in it about 2 years ago. Farmers were the ones that used them most. Folks didn't trust the automatic tranny back then.
If your truck is all laid up and being held up by the steering column you could get in a tizzy about it, but if you have the time the small older rual yards might be holding one for you.
happy hunting
John
If your truck is all laid up and being held up by the steering column you could get in a tizzy about it, but if you have the time the small older rual yards might be holding one for you.
happy hunting
John
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Fort Rucker, AL
Here's an update. I know now that the steering column from my donar is from an automatic. I had decided to order a shift tube and just cut my original shaft down a couple of inches. I got on the internet and called all around the country, finally tracking an entire column down in Wisconsin. I've decided, for those of you who care, to never get rid of the 3 speed manual because with power steering, it's rare.
Now I know that the shift tubes can be found in other places but one thing really impressed me. I called Dennis at the local Ford place and said he would see what he could find. According to his research, there are only 66 shift tubes available in the whole country at Ford Dealerships for the 3 on the tree with power steering.
Now I know that the shift tubes can be found in other places but one thing really impressed me. I called Dennis at the local Ford place and said he would see what he could find. According to his research, there are only 66 shift tubes available in the whole country at Ford Dealerships for the 3 on the tree with power steering.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
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From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
Originally Posted by debestuss
The only rush is that I'm down to one vehicle, terribly painful. There's a yard close by that I'm going to check on today. Is it too much trouble for you to check the yards in your area to see what they have? I really don't want to put my three speed in the floor but I may have no choice.
John
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Elder User
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From: Fort Rucker, AL
Originally Posted by jowilker
I really don't want you not to feel the love here, so if you will send me a mail through my user name and I will get you a phone number to the yard.
John
John
Thanks, John
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Elder User
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From: Fort Rucker, AL
Well, it's done. I got the column in from Wisconsin and it fits perfectly. I think it came from a '73 or '76. I'm having trouble with wiring in the column now. I've got everything working except the right side turn signal configuration. The front works fine. The brake lights work. If I have the right turn signal on and press the brakes, the signal stops. It never works in the rear, with or without the brake light. I have one extra wire from the '69 side and two extra from the '73 side and I can't make them make a difference anywhere. The left side is perfect.
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Its been awhile since I did mine.Had the same wiring problem.Had to rearrange the wiring in the connector.For some reason the locations of the wires are a little diffrent from truck to truck.Wired mine like it was in the donar truck and got it figured out. moparnut