'78 F150 tilt Column

[ultraranger]

I finally got the remaining rebuild parts in this week, to rebuild the '78 F150 tilt column that I'll be installing in my '69 Ranger. I finished putting the column assembly back together this evening (minus the gear selector lever).

The big, dorky 17" stock steering wheel had to go. The replacement steering wheel is a Momo 'Monte Carlo' 350mm [13.8"] wheel. I also installed a turn signal/tilt lever that's 2 inches shorter than stock.







I put the Momo horn button on, just to see what it would look like but, I plan to replace it with a Ford logo horn button like this:



The next thing I need to locate is a cruise control switch bracket like what was used on the 1989 Saleen Mustangs, like this:

[cole71]

Very nice. Can't wait to see it in the truck.

[ultraranger]

Very nice. Can't wait to see it in the truck.

Thanks. Even with the new column/wheel installed, my truck still won't look as good as yours. My truck is currently a 30 footer but I guess for a 46 year old truck that's never been gone through, it's in pretty good shape.

Eventually, it'll be really nice.

[Bhill671]

Looks clean - Can't wait to see with the cruise and all that.

[ultraranger]

Looks clean - Can't wait to see with the cruise and all that.

Thanks. Years ago, I bought a totaled out '90 Mustang GT to get the fuel injected 5.0L H.O. engine and the T-5 manual 5-speed out of. My intent then was to put it in my '68 Mustang.

A little over 3 years ago, I bought my F-100 and plans changed for what the fuel injected engine would be put in. At the time I grabbed the engine out of the wrecked '90 GT, I also grabbed all the wiring out of it along with the cruise control servo and the control module for it.

The final piece of the puzzle will be getting the cruise control switch bracket to mount the switches to the steering wheel.

Eventually, I'll replace the stock C-4 3-speed automatic transmission in my truck with the '98 Ford 4R70W 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission I have sitting in my shop.



I plan to graft a '90s/2000s model Ford truck gear selector lever, with the O.D. switch mounted on the tip of the knob, to the base of the '78 gear selector lever. This will enable/disable the overdrive gear of the 4R70W. This grafted shifter with O.D. button, in photo below, is shown on a tilt column in a '66 Bronco.

[Corkwheats]

Wow. Good looking work. Where did you get the parts to rebuild your steering column?

I have a 78/79 Bronco Tilt Column in my 71 F100 that I believe is going to need some attention soon.

I'm not looking forward to it - I'm just a novice mechanic.

Anybody wanna make a little extra $ rebuilding it for me? I also just don't have the time.

I'd like to get it done, and done right like this one.

Bob

[ultraranger]

Wow. Good looking work. Where did you get the parts to rebuild your steering column?

I have a 78/79 Bronco Tilt Column in my 71 F100 that I believe is going to need some attention soon.

I'm not looking forward to it - I'm just a novice mechanic.

Anybody wanna make a little extra $ rebuilding it for me? I also just don't have the time.

I'd like to get it done, and done right like this one.

Bob

Thanks for the compliment. The column didn't look very good when I got it but after a trip through the bead blast cabinet and fresh coat of Ford Semi-Gloss Black paint, it looks brand new. However, the tilt mechanism was tight and not worn out, which is a good thing because you can't get new replacements for the upper & lower tilt flanges. The main problem with my column was it needed new bearings, a turn signal switch and just a good cosmetic dress up.

I also replaced the shift collar, transmission dial, the rubber bushing that goes on the end of the gear selector lever and I installed a 2" shorter turn signal lever, since the replacement steering wheel is smaller in diameter than the stock steering wheel.

Most of my mechanical experience of the past 32 years has been with vintage Mustangs but until recently, I had never taken apart/put back together a steering column. It's really not too difficult to figure out though.

I got my replacement parts from NPD (National Parts Depot) and from Jeff's Bronco Graveyard.

Here's a diagram of the assembly:

http://broncograveyard.com/images/addon ... rgclmn.jpg


What the diagram does not show are the two other column bearings. There are (3) bearings in all; Two of the bearings go in the upper tilt flange. There's a another bearing, in the upper tilt flange, that's just slightly larger than the bearing shown in the diagram. The other bearing (same size as the smaller bearing shown in the upper tilt flange) goes at the very bottom of the steering shaft. It's located inside the white plastic "Cap" shown on the diagram.

If your tilt flanges or pivot pins are worn, you'll have to get another column with flanges and pivot pins that are in good shape. Or, you may be able to get a machine shop to drill the existing holes larger in the upper/lower tilt flanges and install bushings then, have them make new pivot pins to fit.

[jreb333]

i would be HIGHLY interested in how you set up the electronic controls for that transmission

[ultraranger]

i would be HIGHLY interested in how you set up the electronic controls for that transmission

The '90 Mustang GT EEC-IV engine processor doesn't have a PCM (Powertrain Control Module) built into it. That didn't come about until 1994. All Fox Mustang 5.0L LX and GT's '87 through 1993, with an automatic, would have had an AOD. Shift control on the AOD was strictly hydraulic and regulated by a throttle valve cable. The 4R70W is shifted electronically by internal solenoids.

1994/'95 SN95 Mustangs, with an automatic, would have had an AODE. The PCM was integrated into the engine control module on them. '96-'04 Mustangs received the 4R70W transmission and shift control on those was also built into the ECM. The 4R70W transmissions from the 4.6L V-8 models won't bolt to a 'Windsor' block pattern but the 4R70Ws from the 3.8L Mustangs (or 4.2 L trucks or 5.0L Explorers) will.

Since the PCM isn't a part of my A9P EEC-IV engine processor, I have a stand - alone transmission shift controller, made by US Shift, that will control the shifting of the 4R70W transmission.

Shift module I have in link below. (it can be used with EFI or carbureted engines, if you mount a throttle position sensor on the carb's throttle lever/shaft).

http://usshift.com/

[ultraranger]

After a good bit of searching and paying a pretty hefty sum for it, a few weeks ago, I finally got a cruise control switch bracket that came from a 1989 Saleen Mustang.

I bought a set of '87-'89 Mustang cruise control switches off Ebay that arrived today.

Here's the bracket and cruise control switches mounted on my '78 F-150 tilt column.