68' F100 Manual Steering Grearbox

[lbm33]

Hello, my dad and I are restoring his 68' F100 360, 3 speed on column, that he was the 1st and 9th owner of. Upon finding the truck, it was converted over to power steering and a C6 at some point. We are trying to put it back all original, I was able to purchase a 69' parts truck to get the manual column, ford 3.03 trans, and other misc. parts, however the manual steering gear case was no longer on the truck. Can someone tell me the correct part number I need to look for on manual steering case? The power one on the truck now is: C6AR 3580-A2 thanks for any help!! -Lawson

[cowbay]

Any local parts store should be able to get you a steering box rebuilt and ready to drop in. I just did mine on my 69 Bump. It cost me $190.00 for the unit plus the rag joint. AC Delco # 36G0001

I will say, I forgot how tight the steering could be since I was used to all that play before. I do believe there is another manual gearbox where you do not have to tinker with the steering linkage since it is now set up for power steering. That part number I am not sue of. Also you can go on rock auto if now one has it close by.

As for the 3 speed column swap I would suggest getting a rebuild kit from LMC or whoever and do it now. To me just a little insurance instead of installing it in the truck to find out how loose it is. Anyways you need to post some picture up of the ride and some more history on how long your father owned to how you got it back. Sounds interesting

[cowbay]

Also for any odd ball parts fablous f100's has a large selection of salvage parts

[lbm33]

Thanks Cowbay, I was trying to find a original one off a junk truck and go through it, but with the info you gave I am now just going to orders new one. As for the column, I have already torn it apart and have the parts ordered from LMC, thanks again for all the help!

As for the truck, my dad ordered it new when he graduated from highschool. 1968 Lunar Green, s.w.b., 360, 3 on the tree. He used it on our row-crop farm from when it came in till the late 70's, then it was passed down to one of the hands to use on farm. In about 85' it was parked, just slap worn out from being used basically everyday for 17 years - pulling cotton trailers, bouncing down turn-rows, etc. In 87' he pulled it out of the shed and started restoring it. Punched the 360 out to a 390, and painted it 1968 Mustang "Brittany Blue". I remember he took the old white spoke wheels and had them painted the same color, and added trim rings & T-spindles, also built custom front and rear stainless steel bumpers. Nothing extreme, but just a cool looking truck, especially for the time frame back then. About 2 months after finishing it, he and I were on the way back from a MS State ballgame in Starkville, MS and hit 4 deer when we came over the top of a hill. Yes 4, they were crossing the road, and all dad could do was let off the gas. It tore up the grill, hood, and left door - had one headlight that only worked on bright - but the truck still brought us home. After that, dad put all new parts on it, but never got around to painting it. A young HP cadet had been bugging dad crazy about buying it, after a few more months, dad sold it too him. He tried to find the guy a few weeks later, only to find out he had graduated from HP academy, and moved to south Mississippi and took the truck with him. Dad looked for it till around 2000, with no luck. In 2007 I picked up the trail, and after 5 years, I was able to track it down with a little help from someone in Dept of Revenue Title Division. Irronically, I found it on the east side of the state - 4 miles from where we hit the deer over 20 years earlier. Sitting in yard, last registered in 2002. Now a totally different dark blue, C6 converted, and looking tired. I was able to buy it back only after I showed the guy a picture of me standing beside it when I was 10 years old and dad had just finished it. I loaded it up and hid it for a month before giving it back to him for his 63rd birthday - covered in pine needles and all haha. It was only the 2nd time I've ever seen the old man cry. Will post some pics of it as soon I can figure out how too! Your the man Cowbay! Thanks again, Lawson