Steering Column Compatability
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 187
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From: Lincoln, NE
Steering Column Compatability
My lovely baby s**t brown '79 F-150 is currently at my mechanic's shop with a screwed up shifter. I've got the great three-on-the-tree (which I actually like to drive) that had, until this morning, a busted shift collar. Upon replacing the collar, he noted that the bushings are shot and that they'll have to be replaced, which does not surprise me. I mean, after 30 years, even my joints have their issues. But I digress...
To replace the bushings he reckons that the column will need to be pulled and rebuilt on the bench. A buddy of mine has a three-speed column out of his F150 that he'll sell me for $10. However, his truck is a '77. The bodies are the same, but are the columns compatible? I know the shift collars are different, FWIW. If they're the same, I might as well just swap it out and save the labor costs that I'll get charged for the column rebuild.
Anyone have any insight? Thanks!
To replace the bushings he reckons that the column will need to be pulled and rebuilt on the bench. A buddy of mine has a three-speed column out of his F150 that he'll sell me for $10. However, his truck is a '77. The bodies are the same, but are the columns compatible? I know the shift collars are different, FWIW. If they're the same, I might as well just swap it out and save the labor costs that I'll get charged for the column rebuild.
Anyone have any insight? Thanks!
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 515
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Are you sure? The column I yanked from a '69 f100 looks a perfect match for the one from my '74. The wiring is different, and the steering wheel is larger on the '69 column, but other than that, I think it will work. Guys with '67-'77 frequently transfer in the 78-79 columns for the tilt function some of them have. I have to admit I'm no expert, but I've even seen a how-to on swapping in a Cadillac shift column into an old Ford truck somewhere.
