The steering wheel will not lock up on you. It would be possible if the collar shifted that you would not be able to get your key out of the column.
Since this thread is discussing shift levers; I have a question on this subject. 1.)My car has flr shifter and the car will only start in park. Im thinkin it shud also start in neutral? 2.) Also, my backup lites are non-functional. I wud think the BU sw is not connected or something? Have'nt had a chance to really look into it. Any ideas, mainly in the 1st. question?
On a factory floor shift car, there is a interlock rod that connects to the steering column. It's been years since I actually looked at that stuff, it's all in the attic.I stripped the car in 1987.. I drove my white 74 for years, that was a column shift, that I converted to factory floor shift, without the rod, never tied anything up, and never had an issue with the steering locking...
Yes...it should also start in neutral. It is either not hooked up, or it needs adjustment. Both problems you describe can be related to one or the other.
Hi Jim, I just read through this interesting thread, and I'll add this input: Your first post in this thread indicated that you wanted to make sure your floor shift conversion was safe. Of coarse you can modify your Maverick ANY way you like, because it is your Maverick...but for the sake other's reading this, knowing how this feature was intended to operate, from the Ford engineers, I'll add what I learned. I had to research this "Column Lock Rod" issue also, when collecting parts to convert my car from the Auto Column, to the Auto Factory Floor Shifter. The Intended safety purpose of the "Transmission Column Lock out Rod", used with the Auto floor Shifters, was to prevent the transmission gear selector, from being moved out of the Park position, when the ignition key lock is in the OFF position. So in other words, it was designed to prevent an unattended child, or an adult, from accidentally shifting the car out of park, and into neutral, with the car turned off, and/or the keys not in the ignition. Without it, a car could start rolling down a hill. So it's for locking the transmission, and not the steering wheel. The steering wheel has a separate lock pin, actuated by the keyswitch. I think some aftermarket floor shifters, have a separate safety feature built-in, to lock the tranny with the key off, but not sure about your particular one. Modern cars, of course, interlock the shift-out-of-park, with pushing on the brakes and key-on. To add more: It's true, if your aftermarket floor shifter, calls for securing the rotating tranny/lock bracket, at the bottom of the steering column, in the "Park" position...This is so that you will be able to remove your key from the ignition, and also allow your Steering Wheel to lock when the keys are removed. I'm sure you already know the danger that your key will still be able to be turned off, and removed, and your steering wheel can lock, while your are driving down the road. I doubt anyone is going to be shutting off your car, and taking your keys out of the ignition, while your are driving! I also saw where you mentioned if the "rod" that locks the steering wheel (I think you mean the large PIN that moves up and down with the keyswitch, next to the turn signal cam plate), could be removed or shortened, to defeat the locking wheel function. You could do this too, if you want, but it would be defeating a factory safety function that is built into your car. Removing that locking pin, might keep your steering wheel from locking up, but it would also allow the turning of your wheels, if someone tried to steal your car, after putting the transmission in neutral. You have a beautiful car, and have done an amazing job on your restoration. Much of it looks like you have tried to keep it as Factory as possible, while doing some really nice modificatioins. I'm just trying to pass on what I have learned from others on here, so that you can have good information to decide how you would like your Maverick to be. * If you do ever want to make your Auto Floor Shifter, like the Factory setup, you will need the column lockout rod, and the double sided manual lever, on the transmission. You will also need the Auto Floor shifter rod, that goes from the shifter, to the transmission. I have an extra double-sided manual C4 transmission lever that I could sell you, and I'm sure others on here could help you locate the rods. All of these parts are hard to find, but they are not impossible to find. I have pictures and part numbers of all of them in my project thread. The link is in my signature. Good luck with whatever you decide.
yes...I had 2 things happen.. 1st...the steering wheel locked going down the road. 2nd...the collar rotated a little so the car wouldn't crank...(not all the way in park position). ......
Roger, GREAT info and comments!! I hadn't read your restoration thread but will spend some time with it soon. Very nice work! Maybe there should be a tech article on all this since there are so many safety and security issues and lots of folks are doing the floor shift conversion, either factory stock or aftermarket. Maybe four parts: . Tutorial on satety and security mechanisms - Factory column shift - Factory floor shift . Preserving safety and security in floor shift conversions - Column shift to factory stock floor shift - Column shift to aftermarket floor shift Have to think about it. Thanks for the compliments on the car. Yes, I'm preserving most of the external Sprint appearance but with some period-correct enhancements (IMO) and mechanical upgrades like engine, trans and AC. Factory floor shift would have been a really good way to go but guess I was too lazy to chase the parts. One of the issues would have been the bell crank with an E7, 5.0 block, right? Jim
You're welcome Jim. If someone was to write a tech article about these issues, which is not a bad idea...they should include "Jeff in Georgia's" related webpage from his online Maverick Repair Manuals: This page talks about doing the final tightening, after everything related to the Factory Column Lock Rod, has been set: (bottom of page) http://1bad6t.com/Maverick/repair/clutch_transmission_03.html
