85lebaront2 Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 Are you suggesting the tang is broken? How deep do you have to go to change a shift lever? (Sorry, I'm automatic column inept) I imagine on the 1999 it is probably very similar to the one in Darth. I was trying to see where the gate portion is located but not having any luck. Found some views on AllData, column is apparently the same stub column Ford has used for years (our 1990 Town Car had one of the first ones). The shifter detent or gate is on the top side of the column near the bottom and is held on with two Torx screws. There is a pawl that protrudes from the shift tube that engages the detent holding or restricting the shifter movement. Here are some pictures, the closeup is from the 1996 column in Darth. This won't solve the problem, but as near as I can tell swapping the ignition switch from the old column and maybe the steering wheel might solve the electrical issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArdWrknTrk Posted January 23, 2021 Share Posted January 23, 2021 I imagine on the 1999 it is probably very similar to the one in Darth. I was trying to see where the gate portion is located but not having any luck. Found some views on AllData, column is apparently the same stub column Ford has used for years (our 1990 Town Car had one of the first ones). The shifter detent or gate is on the top side of the column near the bottom and is held on with two Torx screws. There is a pawl that protrudes from the shift tube that engages the detent holding or restricting the shifter movement. Here are some pictures, the closeup is from the 1996 column in Darth. This won't solve the problem, but as near as I can tell swapping the ignition switch from the old column and maybe the steering wheel might solve the electrical issues. I was envisioning more of a pawl, or ball and detent setup than just a gang, but there it is. Could it be as simple as 26 coming unbolted? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RenoHuskerDu Posted January 23, 2021 Author Share Posted January 23, 2021 The column has what is actually a gate, the plate that the shift lever tang rides against so that it stops in certain positions and is blocked from moving beyond some areas until you raise the lever. Park is a positive lock, Reverse a smaller one, Neutral and Drive or Overdrive can, on most be freely moved between, 2 and 1 require raising the lever to go into, but some do not need it to go back the D or OD. I don't have a loose column with the gate, but do have a couple of Chrysler floor shifters with a similar design. They have a top button to be depressed. As to why, possibly the tang was broken or the gate was missing. The valve body detents are primarily to keep the manual valve in place once a gear is selected and it allows for wear in the older mechanical linkage. Due to the mechanical advantage most shifters have there is actually very little if any "feel" to those detents. Thanks for all the replies. What enthusiasm here, even for an OT question. Is it just me, or does corporate purchase of a thriving forum tend to dampen its spirit. But don't get me started... The actual column swap was done by Gary my master tech buddy, who also did the heavy lifting on my 550's engine and Transfer Case rebuild, as well as many other items. My sons and I did other heavy lifting such as removing the tool bed. For background, here is the Gantor Project thread on FTE (needs a Summary post as I am now using Gantor for actual work making actual money). Gantor II, 550 of reknown Why not just fix the detents is a good question. In fact that was my request of Gary (not our Gary, my friend Gary). But he proposed swapping in the 05 steering column shortly after I dropped off Gantor, and I agreed. Bill's description of the column shifter "gate" is what I should have written at first. That's exactly what was broken, or possibly removed because it was inop. The detents still could be felt at the end of the shifter cable. It was the gate that was broken and worried me quite a bit. Gary thinks the "gate" had been removed on my 550. The truck had numerous mods including a stretched frame, but the obviously skillful man who did all that work passed away. So, nobody to ask ... I emailed the gentleman who offered to send me some PDF diagrams. We own good data for late OBS and early SD, but not for the Gen 1.1 SDs as I call the 6.0s, such as the 05 donor of my new steering column. I'm beginning to formulate a plan in which I swap in the E99 cruise buttons and ignition switch, then see if that helps. After reviewing those PDFs. We also have a 2000 parts truck out in the field and I could pull its column as a plan B. It's where Gantor got his snappy Lariat LE interior. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted January 23, 2021 Share Posted January 23, 2021 Thanks for all the replies. What enthusiasm here, even for an OT question. Is it just me, or does corporate purchase of a thriving forum tend to dampen its spirit. But don't get me started... The actual column swap was done by Gary my master tech buddy, who also did the heavy lifting on my 550's engine and Transfer Case rebuild, as well as many other items. My sons and I did other heavy lifting such as removing the tool bed. For background, here is the Gantor Project thread on FTE (needs a Summary post as I am now using Gantor for actual work making actual money). Gantor II, 550 of reknown Why not just fix the detents is a good question. In fact that was my request of Gary (not our Gary, my friend Gary). But he proposed swapping in the 05 steering column shortly after I dropped off Gantor, and I agreed. Bill's description of the column shifter "gate" is what I should have written at first. That's exactly what was broken, or possibly removed because it was inop. The detents still could be felt at the end of the shifter cable. It was the gate that was broken and worried me quite a bit. Gary thinks the "gate" had been removed on my 550. The truck had numerous mods including a stretched frame, but the obviously skillful man who did all that work passed away. So, nobody to ask ... I emailed the gentleman who offered to send me some PDF diagrams. We own good data for late OBS and early SD, but not for the Gen 1.1 SDs as I call the 6.0s, such as the 05 donor of my new steering column. I'm beginning to formulate a plan in which I swap in the E99 cruise buttons and ignition switch, then see if that helps. After reviewing those PDFs. We also have a 2000 parts truck out in the field and I could pull its column as a plan B. It's where Gantor got his snappy Lariat LE interior. Gantor II looks to be quite the truck! You've done a whole lot of work! I know very little about the later steering columns or shift detents, so I'll stay out of that discussion. And I'm biased on the forum thing, so will stay out of it as well. But Gantor II is cool! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArdWrknTrk Posted January 23, 2021 Share Posted January 23, 2021 Thanks for all the replies. What enthusiasm here, even for an OT question. Is it just me, or does corporate purchase of a thriving forum tend to dampen its spirit. But don't get me started... The actual column swap was done by Gary my master tech buddy, who also did the heavy lifting on my 550's engine and Transfer Case rebuild, as well as many other items. My sons and I did other heavy lifting such as removing the tool bed. For background, here is the Gantor Project thread on FTE (needs a Summary post as I am now using Gantor for actual work making actual money). Gantor II, 550 of reknown Why not just fix the detents is a good question. In fact that was my request of Gary (not our Gary, my friend Gary). But he proposed swapping in the 05 steering column shortly after I dropped off Gantor, and I agreed. Bill's description of the column shifter "gate" is what I should have written at first. That's exactly what was broken, or possibly removed because it was inop. The detents still could be felt at the end of the shifter cable. It was the gate that was broken and worried me quite a bit. Gary thinks the "gate" had been removed on my 550. The truck had numerous mods including a stretched frame, but the obviously skillful man who did all that work passed away. So, nobody to ask ... I emailed the gentleman who offered to send me some PDF diagrams. We own good data for late OBS and early SD, but not for the Gen 1.1 SDs as I call the 6.0s, such as the 05 donor of my new steering column. I'm beginning to formulate a plan in which I swap in the E99 cruise buttons and ignition switch, then see if that helps. After reviewing those PDFs. We also have a 2000 parts truck out in the field and I could pull its column as a plan B. It's where Gantor got his snappy Lariat LE interior. I'm thinking the 2k column would solve all your problems. Not sure why Gary didn't go that route, but I guess it's still an option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
85lebaront2 Posted January 23, 2021 Share Posted January 23, 2021 Thanks for all the replies. What enthusiasm here, even for an OT question. Is it just me, or does corporate purchase of a thriving forum tend to dampen its spirit. But don't get me started... The actual column swap was done by Gary my master tech buddy, who also did the heavy lifting on my 550's engine and Transfer Case rebuild, as well as many other items. My sons and I did other heavy lifting such as removing the tool bed. For background, here is the Gantor Project thread on FTE (needs a Summary post as I am now using Gantor for actual work making actual money). Gantor II, 550 of reknown Why not just fix the detents is a good question. In fact that was my request of Gary (not our Gary, my friend Gary). But he proposed swapping in the 05 steering column shortly after I dropped off Gantor, and I agreed. Bill's description of the column shifter "gate" is what I should have written at first. That's exactly what was broken, or possibly removed because it was inop. The detents still could be felt at the end of the shifter cable. It was the gate that was broken and worried me quite a bit. Gary thinks the "gate" had been removed on my 550. The truck had numerous mods including a stretched frame, but the obviously skillful man who did all that work passed away. So, nobody to ask ... I emailed the gentleman who offered to send me some PDF diagrams. We own good data for late OBS and early SD, but not for the Gen 1.1 SDs as I call the 6.0s, such as the 05 donor of my new steering column. I'm beginning to formulate a plan in which I swap in the E99 cruise buttons and ignition switch, then see if that helps. After reviewing those PDFs. We also have a 2000 parts truck out in the field and I could pull its column as a plan B. It's where Gantor got his snappy Lariat LE interior. If you need the wiring differences I also have the 1999 and 2005 ignition switch and cruise wiring diagrams saved for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
85lebaront2 Posted January 25, 2021 Share Posted January 25, 2021 If you need the wiring differences I also have the 1999 and 2005 ignition switch and cruise wiring diagrams saved for you. Any further word on this? Just wondering if you got it fixed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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