Steering column modifications???

[1965fordf100]

I am needing to modify my steering column to finish out the swap from manual steering to power. I am really hesitant to section my steering shaft for safety reasons, yet I want to finish this with the least amount of money involved. Has anyone done this conversion by purchasing a new steering shaft (I am assuming 3/4" 36 spline is correct), and putting the stock rag joint flange from the stock steering shaft onto the new steering shaft? Sectioning the column housing I am not concerned about...I guess my other concern is still being able to utilize the stock '65 steering wheel...

Thanks
Phil

[ICEMAN6166]

why dont you look for a ps column/shaft in a salvage yard or online?

[1965fordf100]

why dont you look for a ps column/shaft in a salvage yard or online?

I have briefly looked...I can get a new shaft to length for about $50...I haven't found a column or used shaft for that price anywhere

[ICEMAN6166]

i might have one, shaft only.
remembering i sold a ps column tube a while back without the shaft
got a measurement on total length?

[1965fordf100]

I can get a measurement from Fordifications website...if I rememner right it was right at 32"...i am fine with it being a little shorter and the column being a little closer toward the dash since I am 6'5" a little more room never hurts...i would just have to cut down the column housing a little more and/or move the column under dash mount a bit

[6166 Junkyard Dog]

not to step on anybody toes but have sold many power steering conversions to 65 to 79 and have not yet cut one column or any piece for any truck on automatics or 4 speed trucks

[ICEMAN6166]

not to step on anybody toes but have sold many power steering conversions to 65 to 79 and have not yet cut one column or any piece for any truck on automatics or 4 speed trucks

Tom
my toes are fine

it was my understanding the column tubes/shafts were different lengths for ps/non ps trucks.

myself having not done a 2wd ps conversion, just parted out trucks and not measured the shafts/tubes i can at this time only go by measured length needed.

please clarify if there is a different length for ps/non ps/ford/bendix boxes.

thanks

[6166 Junkyard Dog]

OH Yes columns are different lengths from power steering to non power steering,, Bendix box is the shaft length like 3/16 of a inch,, but still not yet cut a column yet for stock appilications

[1965fordf100]

31 1/4" is the proper length of the steering shaft on the power steering trucks

[6166 Junkyard Dog]

HERE is the correct measurements out of Ford Book for shafts

Non- Power Steering 35 5/8

Bendix 4 bolt top cover 34 15/16

Ford Box 2-bolt top cover 32 7/8

[1965fordf100]

THANKS

[Mugwump]

I had my stock column shortened by my local rod shop here in town that knows what they're doing (Kingpin Hot Rods)... cost me $120, but I know it was done right. This allowed the stock steering wheel, and the stock rag joint flange. Works great.

[1965fordf100]

I had my stock column shortened by my local rod shop here in town that knows what they're doing (Kingpin Hot Rods)... cost me $120, but I know it was done right. This allowed the stock steering wheel, and the stock rag joint flange. Works great.

Nice! Did the shorten just the shaft or the whole column for that price?

Thanks
Phil

[Mugwump]

Shortened just the shaft. They took the section out of the shaft, ground the cut ends to a point, clamped them into a jig, tacked one side, rotated it to the other side, tacked it, then did slow fill welds, allowing it to cool and rotating the shaft in the jig to keep the distortion to a minimum, re-clamping each time. Once the weld was built up past the shaft diameter, they ground it down close to the correct diameter, then finished it in a lathe. Sure made it easy to do the rest of the column rebuild.

[Mugwump]

If I remember right, we had them section out 2" of the shaft. Here are some before/after pix:

Before:


After:


If I'd wanted to section the outer column, another 1-2" off would have been ok - just make sure to section the outer column ABOVE the mounting bracket...

Here's a pic of how it looked installed in Shep - just about the same as factory (tight for those of us sporting a boiler):

[William-in-St George]

Saw off the rag joint flange and using a 4 inch grinder make the shaft a DD. Use a borgeson insulated joint with DD on one end and Ford gear box spline on the other. Easy, and the Borgeson Joint only costs about 60 bucks. Or you could get an ebay Ford tilt column shorten it about 3 inches, add the DD borgeson deal and window the column for a Ford neutral saftey/backup light switch and call it good. All Ford and usually doable for less than 200 bucks. IMHO!

[6166 Junkyard Dog]

I SEEEE It's a 4 speed floor shifter truck,,,, Should have asked us first.. If you just went a got a power steering shaft for the 2 bolt top cover Ford Box it will go in any of the 4 speed columns no cutting no machine shop needed,, like I said never and will never have to cut columns or shafts for all the power steering conversions we do ona regular base it seems,,,,,,,,