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Was tilt wheel a factory option for a 1977 F-150? I inherited my uncle's 1977 F-150 last fall and I have to hold the turn signal on to turn right. I know all it is is the little plastic clip is broken inside the column, but I want to make sure I get the correct parts for when I tear it apart to fix it. I'm not sure what all I will find when I take it apart, as I have been told my uncle tried to repair it before he passed away and whatever he did, didn't work. When I look at the LMC website and their parts diagrams, I see tilt wheel for 1978-79 but not 1977. But, my uncle was the kind of car guy that knew what parts would swap with what vehicle and I wouldn't doubt it for a second that he took a newer tilt column and put it in this truck.
I'm sure I'll be back asking more questions as I wade my way thru on this truck. Overall, it is still in pretty good shape for its age. It spent the last 15 years in Arizona, so the body has some slight surface rust but save for one slight dent in the front quarter its straight. The speedometer works, but the rest of the gauges are dead as are the instrument panel lights and there is a lot of wiring hanging out the bottom of the dash. So, where would be a good place to get wiring diagrams for this thing?
When I comes time to tear into the dash I will definitely search for that diagram. Since it runs and drives now, the dash and wiring is back burner at this point. I have a pulling tractor that isn't quite even a rolling chassis yet that needs finished before it's the truck's turn. For the time being, the "gas guage" is a running note on my phone that I keep track of mileage since I've filled up. I try not to drive it at night anyway to need the dash lights since there are so many deer in my area that I'm scared to death of hitting one and tearing this truck up.
Yep looks like you have a tilt wheel with with aftermarket/dealership installed cruise control on the t/s stalk. And a very one off different looking (cool) horn pad brushed aluminium (?) inlay. I believe that leather wrapped steering wheel is off a 80's, early 90's Ford truck or Bronco or van. That broken piece that keeps the t/s on until you turn the wheel back is normally replaced when you replace the t/s switch.
First you need to remove the steering wheel, (rent a steering wheel puller from the local parts house with a tool rental program) then the turn signal switch. Drive the roll pin out of the gear shift and pull it out. There is some spring pressure to work against to get the shifter out. Then, underneath the turn signal switch are two nuts. Try loosening these first then remove the casting. These are what "clamps" the collar in place. If you take the nuts all the way off the little square head bolts might fall into the steering column and can be a real pain to retrieve. Once all that's out of the way, you can pull the shift collar off. To remove the turn signal switch, you need to remove the phillips head screws that hold the switch in place. Unplug the switch harness under the dash. Look at the harness plug, then look at the terminals, there are little plastic fingers that lock them in place. Depress the fingers and pull the wires out of the plug. Be sure to make a chart of where the wires go. Once the plug is removed, tie a string around the wires and pull the switch out all the way. The string will make getting the wires back through easier. The shift collar just pulls off and the new one pushes on. After that reassemble in reverse order.
NOT guaranteed to be 100 % correct, so make a drawing of yours, before you take your apart.
I've replaced the broken part in a tilt turn signal switch, the part is used in many columns. It was easy to do, although I don't remember the process, it was a few years ago. The replacement part can be found on eBay, or a local parts store might have it. The switch didn't need to come out to replace it. Pics show the broken part in the column, replacement part, & replacement installed.
Maybe someone knows for sure but I think that's an 80's vintage steering wheel. it's not a 78-79.
The column may be the same though .
The lightbulb in my head just came on, if the column was newer than 79 it would have the key in the column and not the dash, right? I'm just trying to figure out if I need a turn signal clip specifically for a 78-79 column, or as scottscott says and its the same part in many different columns.
77&79F250, thank you for the diagrams. My father in law is a retired mechanic, and he told me if I put the whole switch in to use a guitar string as a fish tape for the wiring. Made sense to me.
DruMor no problem, that is what FTE is all about. And to answer your question, no in 1979 the ignition switch was still in the dash. Now in 1980 it moved to the steering column. I would get the plastic rocker switch for a 78/79 and change it 1st.
03-30-2021, 06:23 PM
