The shift "bowl" that the AT shift lever fits in cracked out, common issue on older trucks. I ordered a replacement through LMC, and in the process of taking apart the steering column to replace it, I managed to toss or lose the two screws and holddown plate that holds the spring in place behind the shift lever. Yes...I felt stupid. So...the fact that no one sells those parts, and finding a steering column was nigh-on impossible, the truck just sat, and sat, and sat.
Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago. While visiting friends down outside of Portland (Oregon), I stopped in at the local U-Pullit yard. What a suprise! They had a '76 F250 just in, and had a complete steering column. $25! I had that thing pulled out in no time and on the way home.
After putting it in with a new rag joint, I had to modify the wiring, but was able to re-use part of the wires from the old column, and basically made a '76 to '71 wiring adapter that didn't modify the truck's wiring harness. Having the backlit shift indicator is really nice too.
I swapped the metal inner door panels out of my '71 F100 (it's getting parted out), used the inside door release and arm wrests from that truck as well.
This weekend, I rebuilt the Holley carb (600CFM, vac sec) and the truck is really running nicely at this point.
She's not the most beautiful, but still a great truck:
I'll bet it feels good to be able to drive that again.
