Steering Column question
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 647
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From: Brumley, MO
Well I'm not even close to doing anything yet. I was just brainstorming(hoping someone would know for sure). It is a lot easier to find newer trucks with tilt wheel than 80-86 trucks. Also the 92-96 looks shorter(more room for my belly), but it may be that the dash is bigger to make it seem that way. Thanks for the input.
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 22,415
Likes: 92
From: Denver Metro Area, CO
The only things I know:
I think it was around 1984 when Ford started including the key-in-ignition buzzer (and
associated wiring) feature into the trucks (formerly, this didn't exist) so there will be that to
deal with (which shouldn't be hard, I don't know if your 83 model has this or not).
In at least some - and possibly (probably) all - of the 80-86 trucks, a relay was added into
the horn circuit only when cruise control was installed at the factory, I don't know if or
when this may have changed in later years.
I don't believe tilt vs non-tilt would be much of an issue, nor can I imagine auto vs
manual transmissions (the PRND21 stuff as well as the lever) being a make-or-break
problem but getting replacement turn signal switches in the future will be more of a
challenge for the next owner unless they (you) remember to go looking for parts from the
year & application of the replacement column.
I don't remember the year they started the following two items but at some point they
began putting the windshield wiper & washer controls on the turn signal stalk, and air
bags came into the picture. Both of these would be need to be dealt with somehow as I
believe it was during this time when the steering wheels physically changed and became
incompatible with the columns from previous years.
AFAIK there are no major mechanical changes that would keep the later-model variants
from physically fitting & attaching to the steering system but I've never done it so, as
was said, you will become the resident expert. Let us know.
I think it was around 1984 when Ford started including the key-in-ignition buzzer (and
associated wiring) feature into the trucks (formerly, this didn't exist) so there will be that to
deal with (which shouldn't be hard, I don't know if your 83 model has this or not).
In at least some - and possibly (probably) all - of the 80-86 trucks, a relay was added into
the horn circuit only when cruise control was installed at the factory, I don't know if or
when this may have changed in later years.
I don't believe tilt vs non-tilt would be much of an issue, nor can I imagine auto vs
manual transmissions (the PRND21 stuff as well as the lever) being a make-or-break
problem but getting replacement turn signal switches in the future will be more of a
challenge for the next owner unless they (you) remember to go looking for parts from the
year & application of the replacement column.
I don't remember the year they started the following two items but at some point they
began putting the windshield wiper & washer controls on the turn signal stalk, and air
bags came into the picture. Both of these would be need to be dealt with somehow as I
believe it was during this time when the steering wheels physically changed and became
incompatible with the columns from previous years.
AFAIK there are no major mechanical changes that would keep the later-model variants
from physically fitting & attaching to the steering system but I've never done it so, as
was said, you will become the resident expert. Let us know.
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