Your welcome. Sounds like yours is just not adjusted properly. Its not hard to fix these. Whats hard for me is getting under the dash. Im not nearly as flexable as when I was 25 years old. Good luck.
This is very helpful, I just picked up a 64 Thunderbird with the slide away column, and we could not for the life of us figure out how it worked. Thinking back about it now I think the lockout mechanism is popped down past the column and must have a broken hinge or something that let it fall. I will definitely be using a lot of your videos on my project. Thank you very much for making them.
I’m a new owner of a ‘64 T Bird and I find your videos very informative. You go into detail to explain what each part does. Thank you for making these videos. I now sub to your channel
Thanks so much for this video! Just bought a 64 t-bird and the steering wheel would not slide. Following your video, I was able to get it sliding! Appreciate your help!
Sir, I really appreciate you making this video. I have been having a time with this mechanism and how it all works. After watching this just maybe I can get this all straight and get the car started. I was hoping someone made a video or a least have pictures of the neutral safety switch and how to adjust it. Thank goodness for experienced mechanics who care to share their knowledge.
I have a 65 Bird (had a 66 in the past) with operational swing away steering column. Had some electrical work done to it, and the Bird came back without the steering column swing away function working. Watched the video, went out and looked under the dash, and low and behold, the screw was backed nearly out so it couldn't push the catch latch up. Will correct immediately!
I was referred by John to check out your channel. My original coral 64 hardtop bird is being restored right now. It’s about 3/4 done. I can’t wait for the unvailing. I’m excited to watch all of your videos. I love learning. Thanks for your super informative videos!!
Fantastic video! Content is the perfect balance of explanation and progress. I very much appreciate your taking the time to make it. My inherited ‘64 has terrible issues with popping into reverse and I have to hold the shifter CCW to get it to start or operate the roof. Now I know where to look for issues and what to replace. Thank you, good sir!
Great, Great information and a fun video to watch. I've been upside down and backward in the driver's foot well many times and this is the most fun It's been. BTW, I trust you're talking about the Packers ;-)
Hey Joan, I forgot all about that. I had to watch the video again to understand what you were talking about. All I can say is, "GO RAIDERS!!!" And, we got your guy too so we should do very well this year hopefully. Should be an exciting season. Thank you.
Outstanding, my friend! I'll soon be moving from the exterior to the interior of my '66 and this terrific info will come in very handy. Your subscriber/view count is too low. I'll be sure to mention your channel in my next video. Regards, John
Thanks so much John. I have about 110 subscribers now, whoo hooo! It increased exponentially when I made the steering column and vacuum system videos. I guess that's all anyone cares about. I keep telling my myself, if I had big boobs and great legs like Sarah or Savanna (very cute car girls on UA-cam), then Id also have a million subscribers. But I'm old, chubby and bald instead. Pretty much why I don't show myself too much in the videos. I don't want to scare the crap out of anyone. Like John Belushi when he sees Flounder for the first time in Animal House. Ill check out your videos. Thanks again, Nick
It's only taken me since the mid-70s to learn this. A friend in the mid-70s was driving one of his friends Tbird. We could not get the colum to slide over. I did not get down and look at it. I did not want to start crawling around a strangers car. It probably would have been obvious to me how it worked. That car is probably in a junkyard now.
If I leave the vacuum line off I wont have to worry about the steering column jumping into reverse. I've read comments about T-Bird's vacuum releasing the e-brake when taken out of park(by gravity). That worries me as these vehicles are roughly 4,400 lbs. That actually happened to me with a 72 Maverick Grabber I owned. It folded the driver door alongside the driver fender. I had to pay for damages on the vehicle it fortunately pressed up against. Luckily I was opening the hood when it jumped into reverse or I would have been like a twisted roadkill cat stuck between the 2 vehicles. I do not like steering column shifters but ironically the T-Bird sliding column is one of the attributes that makes them sexy beasts! I think I'll leave the vacc off just to be safe.
Well yes and no. The vacuum line going to the neutral safety switch and then to the ebrake only controls the ebrake. If your shift lever is defective, the vacuum has nothing to do with that, and a defective shift lever is why the shifter falls into reverse, not the ebrake. But you are right, even if you have the ebrake on and the shifter falls into reverse, the ebrake will come off and the car goes zoom down the road backwards. So the car falling into reverse is because of the shift lever, and the vacuum disables the ebrake once the car comes out of park so your problem is now compounded. So leaving the vacuum hose off the neutral safety switch will not prevent the shifter from falling into reverse but it will keep the ebrake engaged no matter what gear it is in. I had a guy take an ebrake handle from a 1963 Thunderbird and he had me weld it to the emergency release lever on the 64-66 Thunderbird ebrake assembly so he could release it by hand only, and he removed the vacuum hose from it. Not a bad idea either. Thanks.
@@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426 That's a great idea! Fortunately I have a buddy up the block that welds. Now to look for a donor e-brake handle. So is there a way to fix the column to avoid it jumping into reverse? Currently it seems to not lock into park so there must be a linkage issue. Any pointers would be greatly appreciated.
@@bayareakat66 Well these steering column videos should explain most of what goes wrong with the steering column and I just published a video about the shift lever and how to repair it so take a look at that. A worn shift lever and a bad lower steering column bushing are the #1 and #2 reasons why they fall out of park. Once those are fixed and the slide mechanism is adjusted properly, you will have no issues. Good luck.
Hey Bill, I dont have any more. Call birds nest and they probably have one since they should have a pile of steering columns from parts cars. Good luck.
Pirate logo? Its an Oakland Raiders logo. I got that while I was doing a job on a 1959 3 speed T-bird convertible at a steel and pipe fabricating company in the city of Vernon in Los Angeles, in 106 degree heat, while having to endure the unbearable suffocating stench of Farmer Johns next door, one of the largest factorys in the country where they process road kill and other carcasses. One of the guys there was cutting those out on a computer guided plasma cutter they just bought. He gave me one. That was the first thing he decided to test the machine with. I wish I had gotten more but I'm lucky to have the one. Go Raiders!
Nick - Great video, thanks for doing these. I just purchased a '65 Landau Special survivor in mostly original condition. The steering column feels frozen and will not moved with the locking mechanism is the fully up (unlocked) position. The slide appears to be reasonably well lubed and I've tried to apply a reasonable amount of force to free it up but it still won't budge. Is there some other interlock or mechanical, electrical or vacuum control that could be preventing the column from sliding? Thanks
Hey David, no there is no other mechanism that locks the steering column. Everything you see in the video is what locks it. The problem must be with the slide mechanism. The door could also be blocking it from opening too, take a look at that. Good luck.
Hi Nick, I’m working on a 1963 Bird, and can often use your 1966 vids as guide to mine. In your earlier vids on steering column, you remove the rubber boot and disconnect the shift linkage prior to column removal. The 63 doesn’t seem to have the same engine compartment hardware as 66, notably linking to the steering box via “rag joint.” I don’t seem to see a shift linkage. Before I dive in to this at all, you happen to know the difference between ‘66 and ‘63 in the engine compartment? Any tips. The neutral “kill switch”, “swing away” and wiring are clearly differences, but I get the hang of that from your series. Thank you!
Hey Kai, just saw your comment just now so sorry for not responding sooner. The steering column is bolted to the engine compartment side of the firewall exactly like the 66 in my videos, exactly, and it even uses the exact same bracket. The NS switch is different but slides back and forth just like the NS switches on later birds so adjusting them is the same. 63 NS switches are of an older and different design and wear out faster but you can buy them new. They are not hard to adjust. The slide mechanism is completely different but similar in the way it works. You can lube the slider top and bottom like I show in my video. Again, sorry for not responding sooner. Thanks.
Subscribed! Excellent video, but I missed one detail. How do you install the metal bracket that seals the rubber boot at the end of steering column? I can’t seem to get the holes in replacement boot to align with bracket. Also, don’t forget to slide metal bracket on column before installation in vehicle.
Hey Jim, I also noticed that the replacement boots holes do not line up with some of the other years retaining bracket. I don't have one in my hand and I'm not the manufacturer but maybe they reproduced a 1964 and are also claiming it fits a 1965-66. 1964 holes do not line up with 65-66. So that is my guess. Anyway, I put the boot on a bench and put the bracket on top of the boot, line up as many holes that will line up and cut the rest. I use a hole punch. Yes, it must be installed first before you assemble the steering column. Kind of a pain in the ass when you have to remove the steering column, completely disassemble it just to replace the boot. Stupid design really. I hope that helped. Thanks, Nick
Vintage Thunderbird Repair That’s too funny, mine is a ‘64, I can confirm that hole pattern does not match. Unfortunately, I figured that out after column installation.
Thank you for you content it’s very informative! I have a 66 with the cruise o matic and am trying to bypass my NSS while waiting on parts, are the wires located in the same spot in order for me to bubblegum my problem and if so where are they?
The NS switch is on the steering column. there are 4 female connectors on the NS switch plug. Two are for starting the car and the other two are for the reverse lights. Find the two for the starting and run a jumper wire with two male blade connectors. Good luck.
Hi, I don't. I assume your speaking about the neutral safety switch on the steering column? Its held on by two hex head sheet metal screws that are very short so they wont dig into the shift tube. First of all you need to be a contortionist to get under the dash with the seat still in the car. I cant do that anymore so I have to pull the seat, then lie flat on my back. Then you will have access to the steering column under the dash. You may not be able to see both screw holes so you will have to see them with your finger tips and work it out. Its not that hard, you can do it. Oh, put the car in low (car not running and block the wheels) so the neutral safety switch actuating lever is out of the way or just remove it altogether. Good luck.
Nick - rebuilding a neutral safety switch for a 65 convertible. Like an idiot I lost one of the small springs inside the switch that puts pressure on the little brass spheres. Any idea where I could get a replacement for the spring? Also is there a trick to getting it back together such that the spring attached to the vacuum switch has tension on it?
Hey Tom, there are 2 springs in an NS switch, one that looks like the spring from a pen and the other is round and looks like a clothes pin spring sort of. Which one did you loose? I've never tried to just buy the spring so I have no idea where you could get one unless one of the dealers have a used switch that you could cannibalize. I always just buy the switch if I need one. Decades ago I tried to rebuild some NS switches and gave up, too difficult and time consuming for something that was available from Ford at the time. Now they are being reproduced. I find the pen style spring on the floor of the cars sometimes because when they break the spring pops out and ends up on the floor. So to answer your question, I do not know of anyone selling parts for NS switches and I have no solution for getting them back together, sorry.
Hey Nick; My steering column will only go as far as the Temperature Gauge, yours and others swing more to the Volt gauge, any idea why the column is stopping short?
Hey Gabe, usually when the steering column doesn't slide all the way is because of improper adjustment or lack of grease or both. You'd have to go under there and take a look. Lube it up good and then check the adjustment. I use white lithium grease. Lube the top and bottom of the slider. Good luck.
in order to start my 65 or slide it over I have to lift up of the shift lever. if I move that bumper in or out does that fix the problem? what causes it to need to be pushed up to start?
Hey Branson, the bumper only allows the steering column to move farther over to the drivers side allowing the locking lever to come down more against the right side of the steering column. It does not have anything to do with the shift lever adjustment. The shift lever adjustment, that adjustment that will allow you to slide the steering column over to the right without having to push up on it after it has reached park, is the actuating lever bolted to the steering column shift tube, it pushes up the locking lever that is part of the slide mechanism. In the video, the actuating lever that moves the locking lever is painted black and attached to the shift tube. It has an adjustment screw with a locking nut on it. The screw can be adjusted up or down and contacts the locking lever which then causes the locking lever to move up or down. The locking lever is what blocks the steering column from moving to the right and is part of the slide mechanism that the steering column itself is bolted to. Also, the actuating lever has 3 bolts that hold it to the shift tube and you can adjust the actuating lever there slightly too since the holes for the bolts are slotted. As far as the car starting properly when the car is in park or slid to the right, the neutral safety switch must be adjusted properly and that can only be achieved if the lower steering column bushing is in excellent condition. Once you have determined that the lower steering column bushing is okay, then you can adjust the neutral safety switch and then the car should start while it is in park or slid to the right without having to lift up on the shift lever. NOTE: a bad shift lever, one with a notch in it that doesn't allow itself to lock into the detent properly will also cause these problems. I show a bad shift lever in the video with a notch in it. Does that help any? I hope so. Good luck, Nick
im 95% sure the rubber bushing is gone, the shift lever has a ton of play and it rattles the shift tube inside. how hard is the project of replacing the bushing? also what needs the be removed to make it easiest?
Hi Branson, my steering column video part 2 assembly, shows exactly how to install the bushing. It is not hard. You do need to remove the drivers side hood hinge for better access so you will need to prop up the hood and protect the paint where the back corner of the hood is. Watch the video and if you have any questions, let me know. Thanks, Nick
Hi, they never had a 4 speed Thunderbird and the 1961-66 Thunderbird was the only Ford that had these slide away steering columns. The only manual transmission Thunderbird were the 1958-60 Thunderbirds and they did not have the slide away steering column. I would imagine that if you put one in a 4 speed car, you would still need the shift lever to be able to slide it to the right or work out some sort of lever to get it to slide. Thanks.
just bought a 66 Thunderbird. Do you know the parts needed to convert my cruise-o-matic to c6? I have purchased the trans mount and the shift linkage. a video would be good for anyone that is wanting to make a driver. Great video!
Hey Dax, I have never done this conversion but I do know that the trans cross member mount positions on the frame are different from a Cruiseomatic to a C6. I think the C6 trans cross member mount is further back down the tunnel (a few inches) causing the trans cross member to be different as well. Because the cross member is further back, the bracket that holds the emergency brake lever is shorter since the emergency brake cables are the same length on both cars. Also the kick down rod to the trans is different, the trans mount is different, the trans lines are different, and the throttle stop (or support plate) is different. Also, the C6 has the NS switch on the trans but I guess you could still keep the one on the steering column. I do not have any measurements for you or any other info since I've never made this modification. I mostly make videos of those things that I am working on at the time. I don't see making this conversion anytime soon, if ever, but you never know. I hope that helped. Nick
Hello Nick, Is there a special tool needed to removed the turn signal wires from the connector ? These videos are fantastic and are a big help, thank you for taking your time to make them. Jeff
Hey Jeffrey, I dont know of a special tool. If you look very closely at the connectors in the plastic plug you will see that the pins have a little metal tab that comes out locking them into the plastic plug. I show this in my steering column video, part one or two. I just use a very small screw driver to push the tabs back and slip the pin out of their sockets. Its not hard. Good luck.
Very good instruction on a mysterious mechanism. My 65 won't budge. Now I can feel confident in tackling this important feature. Thank you!
Your welcome. Sounds like yours is just not adjusted properly. Its not hard to fix these. Whats hard for me is getting under the dash. Im not nearly as flexable as when I was 25 years old. Good luck.
Excellent answer as to why I am having problems with the steering column slide Thanks
This is very helpful, I just picked up a 64 Thunderbird with the slide away column, and we could not for the life of us figure out how it worked. Thinking back about it now I think the lockout mechanism is popped down past the column and must have a broken hinge or something that let it fall. I will definitely be using a lot of your videos on my project. Thank you very much for making them.
Your welcome, good luck.
I’m a new owner of a ‘64 T Bird and I find your videos very informative. You go into detail to explain what each part does. Thank you for making these videos. I now sub to your channel
Thank you Joseph, I appreciate that. good luck with your new Tbird.
Thank you for showing me, I appreciate this so much. I hope to fix mine soon.
Thanks so much for this video! Just bought a 64 t-bird and the steering wheel would not slide. Following your video, I was able to get it sliding! Appreciate your help!
Hey Alyas, thank you. I've gotten so much help from tech videos here on UA-cam that I really felt compelled to give back so this is my contribution.
Sir, I really appreciate you making this video. I have been having a time with this mechanism and how it all works. After watching this just maybe I can get this all straight and get the car started. I was hoping someone made a video or a least have pictures of the neutral safety switch and how to adjust it. Thank goodness for experienced mechanics who care to share their knowledge.
Thanks Don, it was nothing. 😎
I have a 65 Bird (had a 66 in the past) with operational swing away steering column. Had some electrical work done to it, and the Bird came back without the steering column swing away function working. Watched the video, went out and looked under the dash, and low and behold, the screw was backed nearly out so it couldn't push the catch latch up. Will correct immediately!
Hey T, yeah, that is what happens when you hand it over to "experts" that don't have a clue. Glad you were able to fix the problem. Thanks.
Those where three great videos on the steering column.
Thank you.
Thank you so much. A bad NSS was preventing the car from starting in park.
Yes, very common problem. Thank you.
Thanks for that video,will go and adjust mine and lubricate.I have to lift the shift lever up quite hard to get to slide.
Thats either a shift linkage or slide mech adjustment, got to be.
I was referred by John to check out your channel. My original coral 64 hardtop bird is being restored right now. It’s about 3/4 done. I can’t wait for the unvailing. I’m excited to watch all of your videos. I love learning. Thanks for your super informative videos!!
Thanks Nsns S, I appreciate that. I hope your Thunderbird turns out well. Good luck.
Fantastic video! Content is the perfect balance of explanation and progress. I very much appreciate your taking the time to make it. My inherited ‘64 has terrible issues with popping into reverse and I have to hold the shifter CCW to get it to start or operate the roof. Now I know where to look for issues and what to replace. Thank you, good sir!
Thank you. Its not hard to fix. Good luck.
Great, Great information and a fun video to watch. I've been upside down and backward in the driver's foot well many times and this is the most fun It's been. BTW, I trust you're talking about the Packers ;-)
Hey Joan, I forgot all about that. I had to watch the video again to understand what you were talking about. All I can say is, "GO RAIDERS!!!" And, we got your guy too so we should do very well this year hopefully. Should be an exciting season. Thank you.
@@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426 Hey Nick...We shall see...😀
Outstanding, my friend! I'll soon be moving from the exterior to the interior of my '66 and this terrific info will come in very handy. Your subscriber/view count is too low. I'll be sure to mention your channel in my next video.
Regards,
John
Thanks so much John. I have about 110 subscribers now, whoo hooo! It increased exponentially when I made the steering column and vacuum system videos. I guess that's all anyone cares about. I keep telling my myself, if I had big boobs and great legs like Sarah or Savanna (very cute car girls on UA-cam), then Id also have a million subscribers. But I'm old, chubby and bald instead. Pretty much why I don't show myself too much in the videos. I don't want to scare the crap out of anyone. Like John Belushi when he sees Flounder for the first time in Animal House. Ill check out your videos. Thanks again, Nick
All three videos are great it has helped me a ton
Thanks Johnnie.
Great video. Very detailed. Us do it yourselfers really appreciate it. Thank you.
Thanks William
Great series on the steering column. You have a new subscriber.
It's only taken me since the mid-70s to learn this.
A friend in the mid-70s was driving one of his friends Tbird. We could not get the colum to slide over. I did not get down and look at it. I did not want to start crawling around a strangers car. It probably would have been obvious to me how it worked.
That car is probably in a junkyard now.
Old war stories. I've heard many like yours. The steering column is unique so most people don't understand them. Thanks.
WOW Great job explaining it. Thanks
Thanks Rick.
If I leave the vacuum line off I wont have to worry about the steering column jumping into reverse. I've read comments about T-Bird's vacuum releasing the e-brake when taken out of park(by gravity). That worries me as these vehicles are roughly 4,400 lbs. That actually happened to me with a 72 Maverick Grabber I owned. It folded the driver door alongside the driver fender. I had to pay for damages on the vehicle it fortunately pressed up against. Luckily I was opening the hood when it jumped into reverse or I would have been like a twisted roadkill cat stuck between the 2 vehicles. I do not like steering column shifters but ironically the T-Bird sliding column is one of the attributes that makes them sexy beasts! I think I'll leave the vacc off just to be safe.
Well yes and no. The vacuum line going to the neutral safety switch and then to the ebrake only controls the ebrake. If your shift lever is defective, the vacuum has nothing to do with that, and a defective shift lever is why the shifter falls into reverse, not the ebrake. But you are right, even if you have the ebrake on and the shifter falls into reverse, the ebrake will come off and the car goes zoom down the road backwards. So the car falling into reverse is because of the shift lever, and the vacuum disables the ebrake once the car comes out of park so your problem is now compounded. So leaving the vacuum hose off the neutral safety switch will not prevent the shifter from falling into reverse but it will keep the ebrake engaged no matter what gear it is in.
I had a guy take an ebrake handle from a 1963 Thunderbird and he had me weld it to the emergency release lever on the 64-66 Thunderbird ebrake assembly so he could release it by hand only, and he removed the vacuum hose from it. Not a bad idea either. Thanks.
@@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426 That's a great idea! Fortunately I have a buddy up the block that welds. Now to look for a donor e-brake handle. So is there a way to fix the column to avoid it jumping into reverse? Currently it seems to not lock into park so there must be a linkage issue. Any pointers would be greatly appreciated.
@@bayareakat66 Well these steering column videos should explain most of what goes wrong with the steering column and I just published a video about the shift lever and how to repair it so take a look at that. A worn shift lever and a bad lower steering column bushing are the #1 and #2 reasons why they fall out of park. Once those are fixed and the slide mechanism is adjusted properly, you will have no issues. Good luck.
@@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426 Awesome! I'll def check it out. Thanks for the tip -much appreciated
Wow thanks for this video. I have a 64 galaxie with the sliding steering. I'm looking for rebuild kits but maybe I can adjust the slop out of it.
I didnt know that the galaxies had slide away steering columns? was this a modification?
Thank you for making this
Your welcome.
Nick this video is awesome!
Thank you Luis.
Nick, any way to get ahold of one of the yellow nylon sliders, the one that snaps in the rail?
Bill
Hey Bill, I dont have any more. Call birds nest and they probably have one since they should have a pile of steering columns from parts cars. Good luck.
Great just bought a 66
Cool. I have one too, white with a ember glow interior. Youll love it.
thanks for this video
Glad it helped. Thanks.
I want that pirate logo! Time to sell some merch.
Pirate logo? Its an Oakland Raiders logo. I got that while I was doing a job on a 1959 3 speed T-bird convertible at a steel and pipe fabricating company in the city of Vernon in Los Angeles, in 106 degree heat, while having to endure the unbearable suffocating stench of Farmer Johns next door, one of the largest factorys in the country where they process road kill and other carcasses. One of the guys there was cutting those out on a computer guided plasma cutter they just bought. He gave me one. That was the first thing he decided to test the machine with. I wish I had gotten more but I'm lucky to have the one. Go Raiders!
Nick - Great video, thanks for doing these. I just purchased a '65 Landau Special survivor in mostly original condition. The steering column feels frozen and will not moved with the locking mechanism is the fully up (unlocked) position. The slide appears to be reasonably well lubed and I've tried to apply a reasonable amount of force to free it up but it still won't
budge. Is there some other interlock or mechanical, electrical or vacuum control that could be preventing the column from sliding? Thanks
Hey David, no there is no other mechanism that locks the steering column. Everything you see in the video is what locks it. The problem must be with the slide mechanism. The door could also be blocking it from opening too, take a look at that. Good luck.
Hi Nick,
I’m working on a 1963 Bird, and can often use your 1966 vids as guide to mine. In your earlier vids on steering column, you remove the rubber boot and disconnect the shift linkage prior to column removal. The 63 doesn’t seem to have the same engine compartment hardware as 66, notably linking to the steering box via “rag joint.”
I don’t seem to see a shift linkage. Before I dive in to this at all, you happen to know the difference between ‘66 and ‘63 in the engine compartment? Any tips. The neutral “kill switch”, “swing away” and wiring are clearly differences, but I get the hang of that from your series.
Thank you!
Hey Kai, just saw your comment just now so sorry for not responding sooner. The steering column is bolted to the engine compartment side of the firewall exactly like the 66 in my videos, exactly, and it even uses the exact same bracket. The NS switch is different but slides back and forth just like the NS switches on later birds so adjusting them is the same. 63 NS switches are of an older and different design and wear out faster but you can buy them new. They are not hard to adjust. The slide mechanism is completely different but similar in the way it works. You can lube the slider top and bottom like I show in my video. Again, sorry for not responding sooner. Thanks.
Subscribed! Excellent video, but I missed one detail. How do you install the metal bracket that seals the rubber boot at the end of steering column? I can’t seem to get the holes in replacement boot to align with bracket. Also, don’t forget to slide metal bracket on column before installation in vehicle.
Hey Jim, I also noticed that the replacement boots holes do not line up with some of the other years retaining bracket. I don't have one in my hand and I'm not the manufacturer but maybe they reproduced a 1964 and are also claiming it fits a 1965-66. 1964 holes do not line up with 65-66. So that is my guess. Anyway, I put the boot on a bench and put the bracket on top of the boot, line up as many holes that will line up and cut the rest. I use a hole punch. Yes, it must be installed first before you assemble the steering column. Kind of a pain in the ass when you have to remove the steering column, completely disassemble it just to replace the boot. Stupid design really. I hope that helped. Thanks, Nick
Vintage Thunderbird Repair That’s too funny, mine is a ‘64, I can confirm that hole pattern does not match. Unfortunately, I figured that out after column installation.
Thank you for you content it’s very informative! I have a 66 with the cruise o matic and am trying to bypass my NSS while waiting on parts, are the wires located in the same spot in order for me to bubblegum my problem and if so where are they?
The NS switch is on the steering column. there are 4 female connectors on the NS switch plug. Two are for starting the car and the other two are for the reverse lights. Find the two for the starting and run a jumper wire with two male blade connectors. Good luck.
@@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426 Thank you!
Hi do you have install directions on neutral safety switch?
Thanks
Hi, I don't. I assume your speaking about the neutral safety switch on the steering column? Its held on by two hex head sheet metal screws that are very short so they wont dig into the shift tube. First of all you need to be a contortionist to get under the dash with the seat still in the car. I cant do that anymore so I have to pull the seat, then lie flat on my back. Then you will have access to the steering column under the dash. You may not be able to see both screw holes so you will have to see them with your finger tips and work it out. Its not that hard, you can do it. Oh, put the car in low (car not running and block the wheels) so the neutral safety switch actuating lever is out of the way or just remove it altogether. Good luck.
Nick - rebuilding a neutral safety switch for a 65 convertible. Like an idiot I lost one of the small springs inside the switch that puts pressure on the little brass spheres. Any idea where I could get a replacement for the spring? Also is there a trick to getting it back together such that the spring attached to the vacuum switch has tension on it?
Hey Tom, there are 2 springs in an NS switch, one that looks like the spring from a pen and the other is round and looks like a clothes pin spring sort of. Which one did you loose? I've never tried to just buy the spring so I have no idea where you could get one unless one of the dealers have a used switch that you could cannibalize. I always just buy the switch if I need one. Decades ago I tried to rebuild some NS switches and gave up, too difficult and time consuming for something that was available from Ford at the time. Now they are being reproduced. I find the pen style spring on the floor of the cars sometimes because when they break the spring pops out and ends up on the floor. So to answer your question, I do not know of anyone selling parts for NS switches and I have no solution for getting them back together, sorry.
That’s ok. Thanks anyway. And thanks for the great content you produce!
Awesome... Thank you !
Your welcome.
Hey Nick; My steering column will only go as far as the Temperature Gauge, yours and others swing more to the Volt gauge, any idea why the column is stopping short?
Hey Gabe, usually when the steering column doesn't slide all the way is because of improper adjustment or lack of grease or both. You'd have to go under there and take a look. Lube it up good and then check the adjustment. I use white lithium grease. Lube the top and bottom of the slider. Good luck.
in order to start my 65 or slide it over I have to lift up of the shift lever. if I move that bumper in or out does that fix the problem? what causes it to need to be pushed up to start?
Hey Branson, the bumper only allows the steering column to move farther over to the drivers side allowing the locking lever to come down more against the right side of the steering column. It does not have anything to do with the shift lever adjustment. The shift lever adjustment, that adjustment that will allow you to slide the steering column over to the right without having to push up on it after it has reached park, is the actuating lever bolted to the steering column shift tube, it pushes up the locking lever that is part of the slide mechanism. In the video, the actuating lever that moves the locking lever is painted black and attached to the shift tube. It has an adjustment screw with a locking nut on it. The screw can be adjusted up or down and contacts the locking lever which then causes the locking lever to move up or down. The locking lever is what blocks the steering column from moving to the right and is part of the slide mechanism that the steering column itself is bolted to. Also, the actuating lever has 3 bolts that hold it to the shift tube and you can adjust the actuating lever there slightly too since the holes for the bolts are slotted.
As far as the car starting properly when the car is in park or slid to the right, the neutral safety switch must be adjusted properly and that can only be achieved if the lower steering column bushing is in excellent condition. Once you have determined that the lower steering column bushing is okay, then you can adjust the neutral safety switch and then the car should start while it is in park or slid to the right without having to lift up on the shift lever. NOTE: a bad shift lever, one with a notch in it that doesn't allow itself to lock into the detent properly will also cause these problems. I show a bad shift lever in the video with a notch in it. Does that help any? I hope so. Good luck, Nick
John was right about you. Your my new hero! Oh ahh, what is PT3?
Hey Craig, thank you so much. PT3 means part 3 of 3 videos. I probably should have just spelled it out, sorry.
Can you please do a video of how to remove the steering column from the car? That seems to be our biggest issue.
Hi, Ill try. Give me time to work that out. No promises but Ill see what I can do. Thanks.
When you grease it, do you recommend any special kind of grease or is lithium grease fine?
Yeah, white lithium or moly grease is fine.
im 95% sure the rubber bushing is gone, the shift lever has a ton of play and it rattles the shift tube inside. how hard is the project of replacing the bushing? also what needs the be removed to make it easiest?
Hi Branson, my steering column video part 2 assembly, shows exactly how to install the bushing. It is not hard. You do need to remove the drivers side hood hinge for better access so you will need to prop up the hood and protect the paint where the back corner of the hood is. Watch the video and if you have any questions, let me know. Thanks, Nick
VTR- Were these columns ever used in 4 speed cars? How was the lock actuated in a 4 speed? Thanks...
Hi, they never had a 4 speed Thunderbird and the 1961-66 Thunderbird was the only Ford that had these slide away steering columns. The only manual transmission Thunderbird were the 1958-60 Thunderbirds and they did not have the slide away steering column. I would imagine that if you put one in a 4 speed car, you would still need the shift lever to be able to slide it to the right or work out some sort of lever to get it to slide. Thanks.
@@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426 Thank you... You guys are great !
just bought a 66 Thunderbird. Do you know the parts needed to convert my cruise-o-matic to c6? I have purchased the trans mount and the shift linkage. a video would be good for anyone that is wanting to make a driver. Great video!
Hey Dax, I have never done this conversion but I do know that the trans cross member mount positions on the frame are different from a Cruiseomatic to a C6. I think the C6 trans cross member mount is further back down the tunnel (a few inches) causing the trans cross member to be different as well. Because the cross member is further back, the bracket that holds the emergency brake lever is shorter since the emergency brake cables are the same length on both cars. Also the kick down rod to the trans is different, the trans mount is different, the trans lines are different, and the throttle stop (or support plate) is different. Also, the C6 has the NS switch on the trans but I guess you could still keep the one on the steering column. I do not have any measurements for you or any other info since I've never made this modification. I mostly make videos of those things that I am working on at the time. I don't see making this conversion anytime soon, if ever, but you never know. I hope that helped. Nick
thanks for the tip using this info today
Glad to help Tommy. Thanks.
Hello Nick, Is there a special tool needed to removed the turn signal wires from the connector ? These videos are fantastic and are a big help, thank you for taking your time to make them. Jeff
Hey Jeffrey, I dont know of a special tool. If you look very closely at the connectors in the plastic plug you will see that the pins have a little metal tab that comes out locking them into the plastic plug. I show this in my steering column video, part one or two. I just use a very small screw driver to push the tabs back and slip the pin out of their sockets. Its not hard. Good luck.
cool
Thank you
I wish I could paste a pic of my car here
Take photos of it and create a youtube video and then post the link. I dont know how to do it otherwise either.
Perfect. Thank ya!