The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Mounting point for TF 3 speed shift bracket

1958 TF 1/2 ton - I am re-installing three speed shift linkage but the replacement column I have used came from a four speed, therefore I need to drill and tap two holes on the top of the column for the shifter linkage bracket. Could anyone please measure and tell me how far from the wheel-end of the column to drill? Would be very helpful to know if your measurement includes the steering wheel bearing or not (preferably excluding bearing)!

There's enough play between the shift rods and the shift box mounting position that I can't with confidence just approximate, and the only measurement I see in either the factory assembly manual or the shop manual is from the wheel to the shift lever, which doesn't help a bunch as there is some plus/minus with the repo column bearing (and it's tough to measure without firmly affixing the lever!).

Thank you very much!

Edited

Thanks very much for the response. The shift box mounts with a bracket around the column, there are no holes and it can slide up and down as needed, not at a fixed point.

from the factory the box is properly positioned by a hole in the mast jacket, without that [and box "sliding up and down"] you're looking for a ton of grief with the linkage jamming, the linkage is enough problem as designed - you really need the correct 3 speed column - also, the upper mount holes need to be precisely placed around the tube

Bill

I recently did a 4 speed to 3 speed OD conversion on a 59 3200. The column was drilled and threaded and had all the holes in the correct location. We obtained the shift linkage and bolted it right on.
I could understand that a column on a larger truck may not be set up for a column shifter but it would seem that the entire steering box would be larger as well. The tube is not removable from the steering box so as Bill recommends - you really need the correct 3 speed column.
Fred