Gary Lewis

Good catch. I'll add something about that and use this pic:

You are now on the map. As for the pics, I'm working on the Forum FAQ's page now and see that it doesn't accurately 'splain what is going on. So let me try here. In the dark ages (when I was a kid) it was intuitively obvious to the casual observer which way was up on a camera - usually where the handle was. But as mobile phones became our cameras we lost any sense of which way is up on them. So the cameras were given a sense of their orientation and they embed that info in the metadata of the picture. Smart software reads that data and re-orients the picture before displaying it. But many forums, including this one, do not have the smarts to read the metadata. So you have to either figure out which way is up on your phone and always take the pics that way or use editing software to re-orient the pic. Many of the apps available will re-orient the pic if you just open it and then save it again. But I always upload the pic and then preview it before posting to make sure that has happened. If not I rotate it as needed. HOWEVER, once you upload a file with a given name the system usually refuses to truly upload it again. It acts like it does, but it doesn't actually overwrite the file. So if I have to rotate or otherwise edit a pic I rename it to ensure the system will use the newly-edited file.

As I'm looking at updating the page at Bullnose Forum/Bullnose Forum FAQ's I thought I ought to try to use the Embed tab in the toolbar on posts. Here's your Shafer Trail video, Jeff, using just that tab w/o the fancy HTML tricks. I just clicked Embed and then Embed Tags and pasted the Youtube embed code between the code that was generated. Didn't even tick the Message is in HTML Format box.

Jeff - Sorry for the late reply. I saw this and meant to reply - but forgot. Yes, that's exactly right. Let me go work on a page to post that.

Welcome - even if you've been around almost two years. Glad you joined, and finally posted. Where's home? We could add you to the map (Bullnose Forum/Member's Map in the menu) with a city/state or zip. How 'bout some pics? You can see how to do that on the page at Bullnose Forum/Forum FAQ's.

Within a day or two of creating a saved search, I got a notification of one bring listed auction style. $9.99 starting bid plus $4.99 shipping. It just ended and no one bid against me! Sweet! This is gonna be so helpful! Congrat's!!! That's an excellent price.

I think you are right. I'm not sure where I came up with "lower shaft in the steering column". There are actually two shafts in the tilt columns, but they are both part of 3524 and don't appear to be available separately. Given that I've changed the wording to '3524 is "Shaft assy, (steering column)", meaning the upper shaft, the one in the steering column.' Does that work? Is it still messy? Suggestions? And, I've updated the page a bunch of different ways, so please take a look. I'd like to get this nailed down and move on.

You seemed to suggest that 3524 was the lower column.But, as we all know, EVERY Ford lower column carries the same 3B676 number...I anticipated some confusion. So maybe I need to make bold what the MPC says and underline what I said? "3524 is Shaft assy, (steering column), meaning the lower shaft in the steering column." Does that help?

Jim - Yes, 3B676 is the lower shaft, even up to today. The part number for what you bought is BL3Z 3B676-A. And you are right on the other parts, although I don't understand why they need to be changed if the lower shaft is changed. Ralph - Can you help us here?

When I look at the chart, under /Part Numbers/ it says "lower -'82/'88- also replace 3524 & 3E715, tilt wheel only." I don't have tilt wheel. Perhaps I misunderstand? That's one reason I've not mentioned buying a replacement Bullnose lower shaft. I do NOT understand the table of part numbers! From what I see there's: All before 2/81 take E0TZ-A. This should mean power and manual steering and tilt as well as non-tilt columns. 2/81 to 12/81 the manual steering trucks take E1TZ-A and power steering takes E1TZ-B, regardless of tilt or not From 12/81 to the end of the catalog, meaning 1989, the manual steering trucks take E2TZ-A. But the power steering trucks should use E8TZ-A. However, that must surely have originally been E2TZ-B. And then there's the part you referenced that says "1982/88-also replace 3524 & 3E715, tilt wheel only." 3524 is Shaft assy, (steering column), meaning the lower shaft in the steering column. And 3E715 is Actuator (steering column lock lever). So it looks to me like if you replace the lower shaft you are supposed to change out some parts in the column as well - on trucks with a tilt column. Does the above seem to capture what the table says? If so maybe I should include that on the Part Numbers tab?

I understand your thinking. But I'd wait until I got the harness out to decide. It may not be as bad as you think, but it may be worse.

I'm trying. lol. Now that the weather is better and my new job isn't as stressful as my old one was, I'm hoping to get some more stuff done on all of my trucks. I find working on trucks relieves some stress - although it sometimes creates stress on its own.

I'm guessing that most people don't put the box under the seat, so their wiring is a lot shorter than yours. And it is the length, plus proximity, that does the coupling.

PROGRESS!!!

Yes, it should. But a shield really shouldn't be grounded in more than one place. The reason for that is because no two places on a vehicle will be at exactly the same voltage. So if you ground it in two places you'll have a current in the shield and that will induce a signal onto the wires inside. It may not be much, but you aren't supposed to do it.

Yes, it would typically be metal. I used this stuff from Amazon on Big Blue. It is tinned copper and can be opened up for about any size of wire run. But running under the truck I'd put it in a piece of split loom to provide some protection.

RA says that a 2014 F150 takes a BL3Z 3B676-A, which is a different #. That doesn't mean it won't fit though. Given the conflicting info we have, I think the safe thing to do is to use the part number info of 7L1Z 3B676-A, B, & C as well as 8L1Z 3B676-A. And include the application info that Dorman provides with those #'s. How does that sound?

I can't really speak to the Pertronix unit's wiring, but I can speak to the issue of running wires in parallel. The longer the wires run in parallel the more coupling there is between them. So the wires entering the box together doesn't really matter, it takes distance to effect coupling. But if you run the sensitive wires in a shield and ground one end of the shield then you can run them parallel to the other wires.

I do have the part number in there on the 1988 - 1991 Shaft item. It says "In 1988 Ford introduced a new lower shaft with part number E8TZ 3B676-A, which should carry the ID # on it of E8TA 3E751-AA. That part was used through 1991 on the pickups." But if you missed it maybe I should make it bold or put it in red or some other color? However, I don't have the part number for the "2009-2014" in there. Looking at the RA catalog for a 2009 F150 I find the following entries, but they say that the part isn't for a 2009 - 2014 F150, but instead a 2009 & 2010 F150, although it does fit other applications out to 2014. So I think it is best that we say 2009-2010 F150 and use the part numbers of 7L1Z 3B676-A, B, & C as well as 8L1Z 3B676-A. Does that make sense? SKP SK425366: $50 DORMAN 425366:OEM/Interchange Numbers: 7L1Z3B676A, 7L1Z3B676B, 7L1Z3B676C, 8L1Z3B676A $107 DORMAN 425387 Steering Shaft: OEM/Interchange Numbers: 7L1Z3E751A $109 Lares 507: OEM/Interchange Numbers: 425366, 7L1Z3B676A, 7L1Z3B676B, 7L1Z3B676C, 8L1Z3B676A Out of stock, so no price

You are now on the map.

Ok guys, I modified the previous Rag Joint page to now be the Lower Steering Shaft page: Documentation/Steering/Lower Steering Shaft. Please take a look and let me know what you think. However, I'm working in the background to get the picture sizes sorted, so I'm know that's messed up. What I'm really looking for is upgrades on the wording, flow, etc. PLEASE!

Welcome! Glad you joined. Nice truck! Looks like it is excellent condition. In fact, the burled wood trim on the dash even looks great. I can't answer your question about the wheels, but I do like the ones you are looking for, so good luck. By the way, where's home? I ask because we have a map (Bullnose Forum/Member's Map in the menu) and can add you with a city/state or zip.

Bill - I'll bet the top one in my pic above is the 1992 + unit.

Good thought, Bill. I've not tried that, but should. Thanks!

Nice looking truck, but I'm not seeing anything in the writeup that tells what engine it has. Nor are there pictures of the engine compartment. And it doesn't actually say that it runs or can be driven.