Steering column

[Kustomfiend]

I am new here and have searched high and low for a couple of answers.

I have a strange 1965, that was manufactured in South Africa. It's a right hand drive, with a number of odd factory "modifications". The first "oddity" is the body mouldings on the bed doesn't line up with the taillight-side moldings. This I solved by removing the taillight housing and the offending "missaligned' body moldings and moving it up by an inch. This was the first modification I had to perform, in order to fab up a custom smoothed tailgate. Another factory standard is a Unibody rear bumper, which the Ford South Africa maintained throughout the '70' s.

The second oddity is an instrument panel from a '64 truck. The dash control knobs is also on the piss and I had to study photos of American 64's to find each one's rightful home.

Now here's my question: I have a '73-'77 manual column shift steering column. Would it work on a '61-'66? I cross referenced the column collar from the LMC, NPD and Dennis Carpenter catalogs and the it would appear, that they all look the same. The LMC catalogue lists the collar the same as for '61 all the way to '74. The purpose of this exercise is the addition of an emergency hazard switch, which is on the turn signal switch, as finding a 1965/1966 emergency hazard switch is as rare as chicken's teeth. I have found a bezel, which would replace the cigar lighter. And nowhere can I find a retro 4-way hazard switch. Thus the addition of a '73-'77 column.

[rickairmedic]

That I would think would depend on what american year your truck is based on . The 61-64 american trucks the steering column and steering box were one piece basically . The 65 and later steering columns and steering boxes were seperate from each other . I would say if you have the earlier style column/steering box then it would be a good bit of work to adapt the later steering column .


Rick

[F7BIGJOB]

You don't say where you're located, there are hazard asms on evilbay time to time, or a local junkyard, or get an after market one and replace with an original when you finally find one

WE LOVE PICS
Welcome to a great site......

[banjopicker66]

Welcome from South Carolina.
I believe it would be far easier to add 4-ways with the correct dealer or after-factory setup. This was a harness with switch and flasher that plugged in between the turn signal switch and the dash harness.
To help identify the correct 4-way harness, the connectors between the turn signal and the dash harnesses should be cubed shaped.
Post in the Parts Wanted section, and someone may have a set in their spare parts.
Best of luck, and welcome again from South Carolina.

[kstones63]

from Phoenix.

We need pics. This truck sounds like it is different and we would all like to see it.

Kevin

[Kustomfiend]

Thanks for the advice.

Here's some pics of my truck before she was loaded onto the transporter.

1964 grille has since been replaced with a '65 in a better condition.



Here's the odd factory "misalignments". Note the top edge of the bed, the ugly tailgate and the sharp corners on the edge. The only part that survived the surgery is the Ford letters. The sharp corners is currently a work in progress and has been proving to be quite a task.



And here's a close up of the instrument panel. All those knobs has to go, in favor of brand new ones. I have had to swap them over to the original position. The aftermarket floorshift has been removed and the column shift restored to its rightful place, with new bushes, shift tube and shift rods with tie-rod ends, instead of the original.