For those of you keeping up with my escapades... I want/need to remove the entire steering column with the column shifter mechanisms, steering axle, etc. Something is in there causing binding and grinding, or maybe I have a bearing going out. (I got the ignition switch off and don't see anything that could have broken off and jammed in there.) Either way, I want to remove the entire thing, cut off the tab at the bottom that used to go to the trans linkage, and remove anything I can to clean it up. I might do what fan2488 did and grind down the bump that held the column shift handle, bondo it in, and paint over it. His looks like a factory job. Cannot tell there was ever anything else there but collar. How do I get it all out? What can I remove and still make it functional (as a floor shifter, I will never reinstall the column shift)? There appears to be at least three main parts...the steering axle, the sleeve that works the column shifter, and the "accordian" tube around the entire shebang. What do I need, and what can I toss? Neutral safety switch and reverse lights are in my floor shifter, so I don't need anything on the column except the turn signal, key, and hazard switch. Any suggestions on how to freeze the column shift collar? I want to permanently fix my tach to it, and don't want it sliding up and down.
i would think as soon as you unhook, all the shifting rods it should not move.when are you coming up this way again. i would be more than happy to look at it and see if we can figure something out.
Well, currently, the steering is taken mostly apart, so even if I came up, it would be without the car. I have to find the crud that is binding, or replace the bearing if that is the problem. I don't feel safe driving knowing that something could interrupt my steering at any time. Once I get the entire column out, verify all is safe and clear, then I will start driving it again. I figured I would take off whatever I can so this kind of issue will never arise again. Currently, I have all the rods from the bottom of the steering column to the trans taken off, and the shifting collar rolls back and forth freely. I will eventually bolt it down, fiberglass it to the upper collar, or something, so it stops moving and becomes a solid mount for my tach.
i think you could leave in the part that locks it in park. its the part that the shift lever goes into. there is a spring around it,if my memory is right.sorry for the bad explanation.
I totally removed my 3 speed steering column one time to rebuild it as the the shift collar plus can't remember what the part was now at the end of the column broke and when you would shift the gear shift lever would hang up in between gears. If I remember right the worst was that the old linkage from the steering column that went to the transmission had some plastic grommets that held the linkage to the shift levers on the column. Ford made a tool to remove those that looks like a pair of pliars, the column is very easy to remove on these cars. I think the two bolts under the dash and then out at the steering gear there is a flex type joint where you can disconnect it. Not shure if I am any help, but I too now plan to put a floor shifter in mine and am going to just remove the linkage and probably leave the shift collar as is for now, I know it would look much better with the lug removed though from the collar, you should not have to much trouble getting the column out though and working on it.
I got the entire thing out while leaving the steering "axle" attached to the steering box...I just unbolted everything and the shift collar and tube and the mounting tube all slid out, leaving the axle. Have cut off the bumps on the shift collar, then burned up my Dremel, so it has to go to the shop before I can get much more done. Might use a drill with a sanding disk to do some more. I will fill the inside of the square hole that had the shift handle until it is coming out the hole in the collar, and then grind down until level and repaint the entire thing. I saw fan2488's work, and have a pretty good idea how it will turn out (of course, his bondo work is MUCH better than mine). I will probably still be able to tell that it is not perfect, his looks like a floor shift collar. Went ahead and cleaned and lubed the bearing at the top. When my car caught fire a couple years back, it damaged some plastic parts, including the neutral safety/reverse light switch (why I went floor shift) and when I put headers on, I cut off all those rubber joints and rods to the trans. I cut off the tab at the bottom of the shifter last night and rounded it up. There is a plastic collar inside the shifter tube that the neutral safety switch screwed into that was burned and warped badly, might have been what was binding me. It may be a hard part to replace, and I think I might need it, as it seems like a "guide plate" for the column to ride over the axle. Anyone know for sure if this plastic ring, or lack thereof, will be a problem? I might just have to reassemble and see if it rubs or wiggles. Or fabricate something out of teflon or similar to slip in there. maybe grease it up a little
Hi Scooper, I am not shure which plastic sleeve you are talking about, but I kept everything out of my column as I replaced everything whether it needed it or not, if you could send me a pic of the part I might have it just by chance the only thing that was broke in my column was the collar and lower bearing or housing that holds the shift levers. If I have what you need you can just have the part for whatever it costs to get it to you, let me know.
The plastic piece on the top of the shaft (not where it is supposed to be, just there for photogenic purposes) is what I think I "might" need. The chunk of black plastic melted on the top of it is the remnants of the neutral safety switch, which I don't need (in my new floor shifter). If I need the entire plastic ring to mount inside the column as a "bearing" of sorts (to keep the bottom half of the steering shaft from wiggling) I would be willing to buy it off of you. Not sure, at this point, if I even need it. Let me know, since it sounds like you have done this job, or similar, in the past.
I do have one of those here or at least it looks very close, I am posting a pic of mine but I can't tell if yours is identical or not, maybe you will be able to tell from my pic here.
I could not figure out how to upload the pic here, I could email you a pic of it if that would be okay, I will give you my email address here. rsrs10@rockymountains.net
