Well I took apart my steering column today because my lock cylinder wouldn't return from the run position. I thought it was a bad actuator cam after reading through alot of articles on this sight. Well to my surprise the whole column was trash...looks like it's a tilt steering wheel that doesn't tilt the cam was broken, the turn signal switch was broken and something else in there(looked like a sqaure aluminum rod of some sort at the very top of the column was completely sheered off.

So I just ordered a new column from a junk yard ($150). Does anyone know if a new 1990 F350 xlt Lariat 7.5l originally came with a tilt steering column?

 

Tilt wheel would have been an option on your truck; probably part of a "package" on the XLT Lariat that might have also included cruise & power windows (front only) with power locks.

Again, as I have posted before, these trucks shared many column components with a number of 1970s passenger cars so your old column may be rebuildable. I would not send it to the junk heap just yet...

dn.

 

I believe the XLT Lariat is the fully loaded version of the truck, at least mine certainly is - also every XLT Lariat truck I've seen in junkyards has had cruise, power everything, and tilt wheel. Just my observations...

 

Thanks for the replies, sounds like my truck did come with the tilt steering then. I was going to rebuild my column, but it's not worth it. The dealer wanted $88 just for the cam, add in the harness for the turn signal, and other problems I listed and it's well over the $150 I paid the yard. I will however keep my old column for parts as long as I can.

Thanks guys.

 

I finally got my steering column installed and working properly, I had to wait for an extra pair of hands to help with the install. You need one person to push the culomn from inside the cab, and another to keep the u-joint straight in the engine compartment. It was pretty easy and straight forward but one step that was not mentioned in any of the threads I read was disconnecting the steering linkage to the the old column. That was a little tricky cause there's no room to put some muscle on it. Re-connecting it was a 2 man job but nothing difficult. So now I have tilt, indicators I don't have to hold, and a key lock cylinder that returns from the run position. 3 problems down several to go.

 

Congratulations on your accomplishment! Posting your outcome is encouraging to others who may be intimidated by similar projects. When you tackle one of those "next" items and have questions post them here; there are a number of knowledgeable folks on this forum.

dn.