I have a 66 f250 and would like to change column to one that won't jump into reverse and have power steering. I put a new shift plat in the shift collar but it is only time before that wears out. Anybody do a change that is a bolt in that look s like it belongs from factory???

ED

 

You can use '70 - '72 steering column for power steering, and you need only use the '65/'66 bracket to make it look original.

You can use a '73 - '79 for power steering as well, but it won't look original. Looks good, though, and it is Ford.

 

Ed, You didn't say, but if your truck has a factory automatic it is a C-O-M and will have a green dot on the selector that others don't.

How long have you had the truck, what are you plans for future upgrades?



John

 

John

I am the 3rd owner of this truck. My Dad bought from the original owner when they worked together. It is a 352, c-o-m, 410 to 1 dana 60.Last year I finally had to have the trans rebuilt.

ED

 

Banjopicker

My 66 has manual steering with bendix box. If I use the 70-72 steering column, will that allow me to use ford power steering box. I know I will have to change the left side engine mount bracket. Is the 70-72 column mtg bracket spot welded on. Removing spot weld isnt a problem. I used 70
power disc brakes. I have several trucks in local pull it and I could easily make the swap in the yard to see how it all works before purchase

ED

 

Ford started using the Ford PS box in the '70 model year.
You must use a steering column from a truck that has the Ford PS box - the manual steering column is longer.
The '70 - '72 steering column is very similar to the '65-'66 column, so they are the closest looking replacement that will allow you to use the Ford PS box.
Yes, the bracket is spot-welded onto the '65 - '72 columns(I do not know about the '73 and later ones, though).

 

Are the column brackets in the same place or will I have to move them?

 

Ed, All of those autos were for C6s that have a different shift select pattern from the C-O-M. I don't know how well they exchange. I believe the arm is different also.

To answer your question, the dash cuffs are in the same place, but the later does not wrap around as far as the 65-72 does.

I run a 76 column in my truck with longer bolts that can be seen.


John

 

I noticed that there is no green dot due to the difference in transmissions, if need be I can put my own green dot to let me know that it takes off in first. Or if this trans doesn't hold up a c6 might be in my future, As far as the longer bolts I have access to a machine shop that would readily make a couple of spacers to clean it up. My main concern is jumping out of park into reverse when that flat plate in the shift collar wears out, and of course power steering would be really nice. I always put it in neutral to be safe but I am afraid my wife might take it out for a spin, and she doesn't always listen. I am assuming they changed to vertical slots in the later columns to eliminate jumping out of gear.

 

the reason it pops out of park is one of 2 things...the linkage may need adjusting...or the parking lock pawl at the trans is worn out...I had a 64 which did the same thing...in a pinch use a bungee cord to keep the lever pulled forward...


- cs65

 

On a 66 with c-o-m There is a flat plate in the shift collar and it has holes for the shift lever pawl to fit into. Over time people get lazy and don't pull up on the shift lever to take it out of park as much as they should and the lever pawl eats a groove between the park and reverse hole and then the shifter can jump from park to reverse.

 

Ed, It might just be me, but I think you are on a different page from the rest of us.

Personally I don't care if your selector has a green dot on it or not. I am telling you that the columns are different in more than one way. The C-O-M uses drive two clicks below the N and the C6 one. The connector arm at the firewall is different.

I might stand corrected, but the column has to be adjusted to the tranny to keep it in park.


John

 

John

I don't care about the green dot either. You are correct that drive (green dot) on c-o-m is two clicks past neutral. This position allows the truck to take off in low and shift to 2nd then drive. One click past neutral allows it to take off in second and shift to drive. I am assuming that on the 70 column two clicks on the column would be 2 on shift indicator and one click would be D. All things being equal 2 would become green dot on old column and truck would take off in low and shift through second then drive.

Am I wrong????????

 

John
I looked at one of my past posts about jumping out of gear.
I don't know if I was making my self clear or not. On a 66 if you take the shift collar off the column on a 66 and turn it upside down you will see a flat plate, It is the detents for column shift lever. If the shift lever pin drags across the plate from park to reverse long enough it will eat a groove all the way through the plate and will allow the truck to jump out of park into reverse.

When you say the lever at the firewall is different, what do you mean? Longer shorter offset????????

 

Ed, John is correct about the shifting linkage, and I forgot that little detail - that isn't so little.
The shifting hardware between the two types is completely different.

'65/'66 - The extension on the steering column has a hole with a rubber grommet. A threaded square nut has a stud that fits onto the extension with a clip.
The nut is threaded onto the top of the shift rod, which drops down to the transmission. (This nut is used to adjust the shifting positions.)
On the transmission, the shift rod clips into a hole on the side-mounted shift lever.

'70 and later (possibly as far back as '68) - The extension on the steering column has a hole with a rubber grommet - this hole is larger than the earlier type.
The shift rod that drops down to the transmission pops into the extension - it does not fit the earlier type.
The bottom of the shift rod is flattened and slotted for a threaded adjuster doohickey. A threaded stud goes through the slot and a nut holds it in place on the shift rod.
The other part of the adjuster doohickey pops into a grommet in the hole on the side-mounted shift lever on the transmission. This hole is not the same size as the earlier one.

None of the parts will interchange. I ended up putting a C-6 and a '70 steering column to make it work correctly.

Your best bet is to compare the transmission shifting setups.

PS - I am sure Bill will soon replace "doohickey" with the correct term!