3 speed p/s

willowbilly3 · Post by **willowbilly3** » Wed Sep 29, 2004 6:53 am

OK this is another question we have talked about before. What about the 3 speed column shift and power steering. I know Keith parted one but it looked like some kind of cobbled up thing. I have seen them for sale on ebay but never got a look. It seems like the column is too long on the ones I have looked at. I could run a bendix box but then I will probably have header issues.
What I want to do is run the T-85 N tranny with column shift, power steering and headers. If I absolutely have to I can use a floor shift but I don't want to.

Post by **FORDification** » Wed Sep 29, 2004 4:55 pm

Yeah, I still haven't gotten around to pulling that apart yet to see how the previous owner got that 3-spd column hooked up to the Saginaw box. I really need to do that one of these days, just to find out. Anyway, here's a pic I took a while back comparing the 3-spd column from my '67 with a Saginaw PS column from a '70:

In this pic, both columns still have the stock 3-spoke wheel attached. It definitely appears (from this angle) that the column tube is going to be too long to allow you to use a shorter shaft in there from a PS column. I can't recall right now just how much the column tube could be shortened, but there might be JUST enough room there to not have to do that. You might be able to trim up the column as much as possible without getting into critical areas. Between that and maybe spacing your column out towards you another 1/2"-3/4" or so, you could make it work. Then if you were to use a lower profile steering wheel, either aftermarket or from a similar-year van (since the wheel dish is less) you could make it work.

I'll be back in the shop on Saturday getting my brake lines finished up...I'll take a look at the end of my 3-spd column and see just how much it could be shortened up. Even if you can't really shorten the tube up enough to use a PS shaft, you could still just mount the column in your truck as-is and then just use a low-profile steering wheel. I'd think your wheel would end up in about the same place.

willowbilly3 · Post by **willowbilly3** » Wed Sep 29, 2004 5:03 pm

Thanks Keith.

lobuck76 · Post by **lobuck76** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 7:40 pm

I got a couple of three on the tree colums if you need one.
I shortened an automatic column once. It was out of an old t bird. I cut three or four inches out of the shaft, shifter sleeve and the outer shuck and welded it all back together. It worked well, I used it in a 54 f100.
The 3 speed would probably be alittle tougher.

willowbilly3 · Post by **willowbilly3** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 8:28 pm

Are you going to the Chikasha swap meet? If so I could have you bring one of the columns there.

lobuck76 · Post by **lobuck76** » Fri Oct 01, 2004 8:15 pm

Saturday would likely be the only day I could make it. It is the third weekend of this month isn't it? Will you be there all three days?

willowbilly3 · Post by **willowbilly3** » Fri Oct 01, 2004 11:32 pm

Not sure yet. But usually I go the first day. Also the people I stay with have other comittments for Sat. I really need to take a load of junk and set up to sell but I haven't talked myself into that yet as I have a car to haul home too. I hava colum to ship Monday so let me see how much it is and maybe I will just have you mail me one. I guess without the steering wheel and if you pull the pin and take out the shift lever it wouldn't be too bad..

willowbilly3 · Post by **willowbilly3** » Mon Oct 04, 2004 7:21 pm

The only place I ahve seen them is ebay and always too far away to think about.

Post by **FORDification** » Mon Oct 04, 2004 7:57 pm

Well, I've actually had some luck contacting the sellers of parts trucks like this one, telling them that if they don't sell it and would be interested in parting it out to contact me. I'm in the process of buying a radiator support and a pair of inner fenderwells from a parts truck that was listed several times and got no bids, so I asked him if he'd part it out, and he agreed. I'm getting all three pieces for $75 + shipping.

cancow · Post by **cancow** » Tue Oct 05, 2004 10:17 am

So it guess if you want to stay stock you cant only use the bendix? Seems like there are lost of aftermarket PS deals out there but not sure if they would be the same problem. Is the bendix really so bad?

willowbilly3 · Post by **willowbilly3** » Tue Oct 05, 2004 10:25 am

I have never ran a bendix and wouldn't be opposed to it but I also want to run headers and most aren't made to clear the Bendix box. And also from what I understand the bendix is a little more susceptible to heat and prone to leak.

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