Hello fellow Ford truck people! I am interested to hear if anyone through trial and error has found the best steering column to use in a 66 F100? I currently have a 4 spd and am thinking of doing an auto but want a column shift instead of putting a shifter on the floor. My truck is currently setup with power steering and has a different year column in it, I would guess a late 70's and only guessing that because it looks like the steering wheel out of a 77 half ton I use to have. Also if possible I would like one a bit shorter, I am 6'2 and there isn't much room between me and the steering wheel. I'm sure there are threads about different columns to use but thought I would just ask. Also because I am new here and need to build my post count! But any and all help will be greatly appreciated!

 

Try contacting Flaming River. The website does not like Classic Fords past '56 ... BUT ... they have helped me in the past and may have something that could work with a little modification ... Flaming River - Classic Auto Parts - Vintage Automobile Steering Components - Steering Accessories - Electrical Components ... good luck

 

I have 65 with T18 4 speed and did not have to shorten column just the shaft. Also used the manual steering column collar and found the angle is slightly off requiring slight refab, possibly if I had gone with the p/s column collar would not have been an issue? Suggest if decide to try this route set in place to determine; in addition, not sure possibly later model shaft, which are shorter, would work?

 

I have a 78 column in my 66 and I took 4-inches out of it. Cost more in my time than in money...but it did move the steering wheel right up close to the dash. I had to shorten the column tube, shift tube and shaft all the same length and keep the tubes "clocked" to align. Instead of welding the shaft, I just cut it off the appropriate length and had the end milled to a double-D and used a Borgeson universal joint to adapt the double-D to the steering box splines. Took a lot of measuring but turned out well.

 

I have a 73 F100 column in my 65. Its an automatic and has tilt with power steering.

 

Tilt wheel not available in F100/350, Bronco & Econoline until 1978.

1978/79 uses a specific steering wheel and T/S switch, not the same as earlier models.

 

Interesting. I assumed mine was out of a 73. I stand corrected.

 

i did something similar (or rather had a friend do it). I wish I took more off than I did, though, because the wheel is still a bit closer to my chest than I want. You can see the work in my build thread.