I'm taking another shot at removing the steering column from a 1980 F100 with a 3 speed manual transmission with a column shifter. What I have not been able to figure out is how to disconnect the transmission shift rods from the shift levers at the steering column. I see that the shift rods fit through an insulator in the shift lever. How do you disconnect the shift rods from the shift levers? Thanks in advance for your help.

 

If it's like the other shifter levers in this era, you just pry them off. They snap in place with that plastic retainer. Now you are thinking to yourself, "I bet that piece of plastic is going to break", and you are correct, 50% of the time they will break when you pry them off.

 

Dave,

Thank you for answering my question. If the plastic retainers break I'll try to hunt up some new ones.