68 f100 steering sloppy and popping, not catching?

[Napalm Headers]

A couple weeks back, I bought a 1968 F100. As far as I can tell, it needs love, but here's what has happened with it so far BEFORE I bought it...

- 3-on-tree converted to floor (Hurst shifter)
- bucket seats (factory? no clue)
- stand alone air element
- after market exhaust

I have done nothing w/ the truck so far, but do know it needs:

- the steering fixed
- brake fluid/brake lines bled

before I can SAFELY drive it. Used a dolly to get it home. My buddy used reverse as a makeshift "brake: just to get it down the hill a bit and onto the dolly.

The culprit as far as the steering goes seems to be the rubber piece that holds the rag? or whatever it is in place. I'll get a pic up when I can. Have one, but the file size is too big. I've browsed the tech articles, but am still having difficulty. Also, I a.) have owned two Dodge Ramchargers prior to this and b.) have NEVER owned a truck this old...seems simple enough though I suppose.

[sargentrs]

You'll need to open your pics in a photo editing program like MS Paint or Photoshop to resize them. 690x400 pixels is a good size for viewing (about 6"x4"). Save it and it should upload fine. You can buy new steering coupler from any of the regular parts dealers, DC, LMC or NPD. Napa carries a good one too. Stay away from the parts stores "Help" section, they're mostly Chinese junk. For a real upgrade, try this http://thmotorsports.com/ingalls/ingall ... 50764.aspx Get the one for your truck of course.

[Napalm Headers]

Alright then, now that the photo of the issue is up, any idea what that ring is that is loose? Also, how difficult is it, skill level or time wise or both, to replace the steering coupler? Thanks again for the help...and no worries, I don't intend on putting Chinese junk on my truck. She was made in America and I plan on keeping her that way as much as possible. I want to put that torque to work and see about raising the horsepower too, but that's down the road when the budget allows for more. For now I just want to fix the steering.

NH

[elgemcdlf]

That's the rag joint. You have problems in the bottom of your column as well. Since it has been converted to floor shift along with what I see here I would be looking at the front cab mounts. If bad you will be chasing this non stop until they are fixed.

[Napalm Headers]

I ordered that coupler from THM. Hoping that'll be a nice addition. Next is a repair manual and possibly some tools if I don't have the necessary ones required for such an...operation. Gentlemen...it's time to bring this girl to life. Well, with better guidance anyways, She fires off just fine. I should probably switch out the breather with a stand alone one though since the air filter is stand alone and someone neglected to cap off things "properly".

[sargentrs]

That ring you mentioned is probably what's left of your lower column bearing. You should replace it before your steering shaft gets damaged if it's not too late already.

[Napalm Headers]

When I'm looking for the part, will it be called a "lower column bearing" or is it part of an assembly?

Also, I didn't see a particular forum for literature, but does anyone know where to get a repair manual for a '68 F100? Where they even made? I can't find a Haynes nor Chiltons on it. The most I've found was a shop manual for $78 and a shop manual on CD for $25 at RockAuto.

[FORDification]

Yes, the factory shop manuals are the most-detailed manuals to get. IMO you should forget about Chilton's or Motor manuals. They'll cover the basics, but don't go into the details the shop manuals do. These are the same manuals the mechanics in the dealerships would refer to when servicing these trucks. You can find full sets on E-bay in paper form or on CD. The CD versions are just scanned pages which are burned to a CD, so they're not searchable, but they're handy in that you can print out certain pages that you can take out to the garage and then throw away when you're done.

Here's a link to a set of '68 manuals on E-bay right now:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1968-Ford-Truck ... 1d&vxp=mtr

...and here's a link to the CD version:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1968-Ford-Truck ... 53&vxp=mtr

[abe]

Can the lower column bearing be replaced with the steering column in place or must it be removed from the truck? What about the upper column bearing? How is that replaced?

[sargentrs]

It can be done but it won't be easy. The steering shaft has to be completed removed from the column. The lower and upper column bearings are a press fit in the housings. Here's something to give you an indication of what you'd be in for. http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... =5&t=72274 You won't have to completely disassemble the column, like that, just to put new bearings in but you will have to remove the steering shaft, get the old bearings out and press/tap the new bearings in. The upper's no big deal but you'll have problems getting to the lower comfortably.