|
It's me in NC again and in response to the owner of the '66, I am proud to say that I finished the job this morning after about 2 weeks. Thanks go out to The Bird Nest for their help over the phone when the OEM service manual was of no help. Obtain both the electrical assembly manual and the wiring diagram for your car - it'll be invaluable.
The 65 and 66 were prone to steering wheel play in the up and down direction, in addition to popping out of park. Even though my vacuum dashpot for the parking brake doesn't work, there is a manual override lever just at dash edge and I suggest always using the p-brake.
Order from any vendor of your choosing but I heartily recommend the quality parts I got from Bird Nest. You should get a new shift lever (~$45) which includes a new rubber collar and will address the old one that has definitely worn a groove into itself; get a new shift detent plate; upper bearing retainer (thin rubber collar that grips the bearing and will solve all of your steering wheel slop) and the lower shift column retainer. This is likely long since gone and is part of the reason you are jumping out of park. Both the upper and lower inserts were originally made of poor polymers or rubbers and evaporated into a wax-like goo. Driving the rollpin out of the shift level pivot was not one of my more pleasant jobs either....
You'll need to remove the driver's hood hinge (it's OK, when fully opened it has no tension, three bolts to the chassis, two to the hood) and then pray that you can fit a 12-pt 7/16" socket on the special shoulder bolts that Ford intended. If they're likely corroded from brake fluid drips, etc, it might be easiest to cut the bastards through the shaft of the bolt (both of them) with a Dremel Multi-Max, and tap out the threaded stubs that remain. These flexible steering couplers ARE NOT reproduced and you need to reuse this part. Once this is out, you'll easily be able to remove the steering shaft and install the upper brg retainer as well as more easily fit the lower retainer.
I know I've typed too much but there's so much more you might need to know as you go along. You can call me on cell at 336.202.3859 weekdays if you'd like. In particular, Ford gave very little slack with the wiring harness up the column and you'll need it to remove the turnsignal and get access to the upper bearing so loosen all three wiring plastic clamps with a 5/16" socket and pull the loop of the harness that goes behind the neutral safety switch up and over. Little things like this made a big difference.
David
|