Steering column swap
5/14/12, 09:44 AM
#2
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5/14/12, 10:34 AM
#4
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The escort is fwd with a different fire wall. All the swaps I have seen are from '87-'89 stangs so don't know what else to tell you. The other thing is the multi switch for the wipers and blinkers. these are things that make swapping in other columns a problem unless you are going to rewire the car.
tilt swap onfo:
http://www.corral.net/index.php/tech...eel-conversion
tilt swap onfo:
http://www.corral.net/index.php/tech...eel-conversion
Last edited by skunk21; 5/14/12 at 10:39 AM. Reason: added link
5/14/12, 03:34 PM
#5
Legacy TMS Member
J ust an fyi question... do you have to use the 87-89 steering wheel or can you use the 90-93 style? Does it create airbag issues?
Are the columns specific to each transmission? (5speed to 5speed; A/T to A/T)
Are the columns specific to each transmission? (5speed to 5speed; A/T to A/T)
5/14/12, 08:15 PM
#7
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Leylah. I am wondering if a column out of a Merc Cougar or Linc LSC Mark 7 would work. I wonder if the parts are interchanable. If I remember right. Weren't the Cougar and LSC both Fox body chassies?
5/15/12, 02:28 AM
#8
Shelby GT350 Member
I have researched this well for myself doing many parts swaps such as this over the years.
Steering columns are the same for all Fox platform cars except cars with airbags. Early Fox cars 1978-82 had a splined shaft the steering wheel sits on. 1983 and later Fox cars had a non-splined two sided shaft the steering wheel sits on. If you are transferring a steering wheel from a non-tilt to a tilt column, be sure the shaft type matches up.
Fox platform cars include:
1978-83 Ford Fairmont - Mercury Zephyr
1979-93 Ford Mustang
1979-86 Mercury Capri
1980-88 Ford Thunderbird - Mercury Cougar
1981-82 Ford Granada - Mercury Cougar sedans and wagons
1983-86 Ford LTD - Mercury Marquis
1982-86 Lincoln Continental
1984-92 Lincoln Mark VII.
The full sized Panther platform cars also used the same tilt steering columns as Fox cars. Panther platform cars include non-airbag equipped 1979-90 LTD Crown Victoria, Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town Car and 1980-83 Lincoln Mark VI.
I have found tilt columns from 1983-88 Thunderbirds and Cougars to be quite plentiful in salvage yards.
You cannot swap a tilt column into a Fox Mustang with an airbag as this was impossible for Ford to do since the deep Mustang airbag took up the space required to install the tilt mechanism on the steering column.
Tilt steering columns with the auto shift lever can be used but you must remove the shift lever from the column by knocking out the roll pin and pulling the shift lever out. It is also best to remove the shift shaft that goes down the column. Care must be taken on non-column shift vehicles to ensure the ignition switch interlock mechanism is retained so that it does not lock the steering column if the key is turned to the lock position.
Most Fox cars have interchangeable steering column shroud trim. Using ones from a column mounted automatic shifter will leave an opening in the upper shroud for the original lever to come through. Non-tilt shroud trim will not fit columns with tilt as the trim is tapered behind the steering wheel to allow for a trim ring to be installed and tilt without binding/
Most steering wheels will interchange but you have to watch for early 80's models that did not have the horn activation pad in the center of the wheel as these were mounted on the end of the turn signal stalk up to 1983. You also have to watch for 1979-82 steering wheels that mount on a splined shaft which are not compatable for 1983 and later columns.
With 1980's era Escort/EXP/Lynx and Tempo/Topaz used modified columns that shared many components with Fox cars but they are not a direct swap. The steering wheels will definitely interchange with Fox cars. The 1982 Mustang GT and 1983 Thunderbird turbo got their four spoke sport steering wheel directly from the 1982 Ford EXP/Mercury LN7 which were Escort based cars.
Mid to late 1980's Escorts/EXP/Lynx and Tempo/Topaz changed dash designs and steering column depth which required steering wheels with a deeper center. If these steering wheels are used on other Fox cars, it will place the steering wheel an inch or so too close to the chest even though they will physically swap in place. These steering wheels are identified with a four spoke design with what looks like an airbag installed but is not an airbag, just a large vinyl horn pad.
Steering columns are the same for all Fox platform cars except cars with airbags. Early Fox cars 1978-82 had a splined shaft the steering wheel sits on. 1983 and later Fox cars had a non-splined two sided shaft the steering wheel sits on. If you are transferring a steering wheel from a non-tilt to a tilt column, be sure the shaft type matches up.
Fox platform cars include:
1978-83 Ford Fairmont - Mercury Zephyr
1979-93 Ford Mustang
1979-86 Mercury Capri
1980-88 Ford Thunderbird - Mercury Cougar
1981-82 Ford Granada - Mercury Cougar sedans and wagons
1983-86 Ford LTD - Mercury Marquis
1982-86 Lincoln Continental
1984-92 Lincoln Mark VII.
The full sized Panther platform cars also used the same tilt steering columns as Fox cars. Panther platform cars include non-airbag equipped 1979-90 LTD Crown Victoria, Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town Car and 1980-83 Lincoln Mark VI.
I have found tilt columns from 1983-88 Thunderbirds and Cougars to be quite plentiful in salvage yards.
You cannot swap a tilt column into a Fox Mustang with an airbag as this was impossible for Ford to do since the deep Mustang airbag took up the space required to install the tilt mechanism on the steering column.
Tilt steering columns with the auto shift lever can be used but you must remove the shift lever from the column by knocking out the roll pin and pulling the shift lever out. It is also best to remove the shift shaft that goes down the column. Care must be taken on non-column shift vehicles to ensure the ignition switch interlock mechanism is retained so that it does not lock the steering column if the key is turned to the lock position.
Most Fox cars have interchangeable steering column shroud trim. Using ones from a column mounted automatic shifter will leave an opening in the upper shroud for the original lever to come through. Non-tilt shroud trim will not fit columns with tilt as the trim is tapered behind the steering wheel to allow for a trim ring to be installed and tilt without binding/
Most steering wheels will interchange but you have to watch for early 80's models that did not have the horn activation pad in the center of the wheel as these were mounted on the end of the turn signal stalk up to 1983. You also have to watch for 1979-82 steering wheels that mount on a splined shaft which are not compatable for 1983 and later columns.
With 1980's era Escort/EXP/Lynx and Tempo/Topaz used modified columns that shared many components with Fox cars but they are not a direct swap. The steering wheels will definitely interchange with Fox cars. The 1982 Mustang GT and 1983 Thunderbird turbo got their four spoke sport steering wheel directly from the 1982 Ford EXP/Mercury LN7 which were Escort based cars.
Mid to late 1980's Escorts/EXP/Lynx and Tempo/Topaz changed dash designs and steering column depth which required steering wheels with a deeper center. If these steering wheels are used on other Fox cars, it will place the steering wheel an inch or so too close to the chest even though they will physically swap in place. These steering wheels are identified with a four spoke design with what looks like an airbag installed but is not an airbag, just a large vinyl horn pad.
Last edited by watchdevil; 6/22/12 at 10:50 PM.
5/15/12, 11:48 PM
#11
Shelby GT350 Member
When I had my 1985 Thunderbird, I swapped the A-frame wheel for a late 80's Escort/EXP/Tempo wheel just because I liked the four spoke design which retained cruise control function. However, the wheel sat about an inch closer to my chest.
When I had my recent 1984 Thunderbird project, I swapped an entire 1997 Mustang dash into the car. One of the interesting but fun challenges was getting the existing Fox steering column dressed to look good with the Mustang dash. Come to find out, 1989-93 Thunderbirds and Cougars retained the use of Fox steering columns but were fitted with squared off contemporary column trim to update the look. That squared off column trim was exactly what I needed to fill the large steering column hole in the Mustang dash. Another part of the challenge was to convert the dual lever turn signal and wiper switches to a single lever. The answer was to use specifically a 1986 Taurus/Sable multi-function switch. This is the only year single stalk switch that will work with the intermittent wiper control module that is used in most Fox cars. The single stalk switch mounts in the same location and screw down positions as the turn signal/dimmer switch in the dual stalk Fox cars. It also includes the hazard light switch that sits on top of the column instead of underneath the left side. That worked perfectly since the 89-93 Tbird steering column trim located the hazard switch in the same place.
I was also able to relocate the automatic shifter to the floor and eliminate the shift lever and shaft from the steering column. The 89-93 Tbird steering column shroud left no trace that there was ever a column shifter.
Original configuration:
Revised configuration using SN95 Mustang dash and various interchangeable Ford parts.
Looking at all this hard work right now is making me sick at this moment because I had to sell the car since I had no place to keep it at my new home.
Last edited by watchdevil; 5/15/12 at 11:51 PM.
5/16/12, 10:38 PM
#13
Shelby GT350 Member
Everything was functional too except I needed a proper fuel sending unit for the fuel gauge so that it would read correctly. The car did not originally have a tach or full set of gauges. Like I said it was one of the most fun projects I had ever done that gave me a full sense of accomplishment. It really sucks I could not do it for the rest of the car. My step-mom was the original owner too.
6/21/12, 09:26 PM
#14
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The wheel from an Earlier Fox 79-83? will not fit a later column 84?+ I recently did a column swap in my 82 simply to change the wheel to a 85 wheel to get rid of the broken red 82 wheel. the attachment for the wheel is different. The earlier wheels had splines while the later ones were a round shaft with 2 flat spots for alignment. Everything else about the columns are the same though. I was able to attach all my switches including the horn/signal switch right in the factory locations. I don't have my original column anymore and took no pics of the sttachment cause I thought it didn't matter. Only pic I took is of the later wheel and column in my car.
6/22/12, 10:41 PM
#15
Shelby GT350 Member
I know this is an older thread but I would like to correct a bit of info
The wheel from an Earlier Fox 79-83? will not fit a later column 84?+ I recently did a column swap in my 82 simply to change the wheel to a 85 wheel to get rid of the broken red 82 wheel. the attachment for the wheel is different. The earlier wheels had splines while the later ones were a round shaft with 2 flat spots for alignment. Everything else about the columns are the same though. I was able to attach all my switches including the horn/signal switch right in the factory locations. I don't have my original column anymore and took no pics of the sttachment cause I thought it didn't matter. Only pic I took is of the later wheel and column in my car.
The wheel from an Earlier Fox 79-83? will not fit a later column 84?+ I recently did a column swap in my 82 simply to change the wheel to a 85 wheel to get rid of the broken red 82 wheel. the attachment for the wheel is different. The earlier wheels had splines while the later ones were a round shaft with 2 flat spots for alignment. Everything else about the columns are the same though. I was able to attach all my switches including the horn/signal switch right in the factory locations. I don't have my original column anymore and took no pics of the sttachment cause I thought it didn't matter. Only pic I took is of the later wheel and column in my car.
I completely forgot about earlier splined wheels. 1982 must the cut-off year for splines because I have had no problem swapping 83 wheels into later cars and vice versa. The wheel I swapped into my 84 Tbird was a 83 wheel. So I would now clarify for the swaps at least start with the 83 model year to get the non-splined versions most model years have.
6/23/12, 12:47 PM
#16
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That's very possible about 82 being the cut off. My car is an 82 and it kinda made me mad when I was swappin interiors and realized I was stuck with a cracked up and broken red wheel lol. As you can see tho thats an easy problem to solve. Took about 30 minutes to swap column
6/24/12, 11:49 PM
#18
Shelby GT350 Member
Probably the most attractive and easiest dash swap is the 85-88 Thunderbird/Cougar dash into 79-93 Mustangs. 87-93 Mustang dashes will fit in 79-86 cars and are also a popular swap into Fairmonts, Granadas, Zephyrs and Cougar sedans and wagons.
2/13/14, 06:09 PM
#19
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'82 fox broken tilt
So i just bought an '82 mustang gt 302 as a project to mess around with and did not pay enough attention to details until i got it home. I realized that the previous owner jb welded the crap out of the tilt on the column. Needless to say it did not hold very long i barely got it home. I cant seem to find a new column anywhere near me at any salvage yards. Does anybody know where i can find an aftermarker column? Or if there is another make/model that will swap right on in. I am pretty new at this and will take all the words of advice i can get.
