Wiper delay question, for the hardcore electrical wizards

Hi MIkael,

As I understood from Wellis they bypassed the Lincoln-Ford delay on the indicator stalk at the factory. The park position only working on the consolle switch might be because it gets its signal from the low/high speed switch.
My guess is that either they half/half bypassed it at the factory or a previous owner thought that the column switch might actually be handy if it were to function and made a unsuccesfull attempt to make it work.

I have the older type column but a friend of mine has a deauville with the same column as yours and his column switch doesn´t work at all. The centerconsole delay works brilliant though!

Chiel

Hi,
Mine is OFF-LOW(delay position)-LOW-HIGH on the stalk. Delay on the knob.

Can any one post pic's of their steering columns showing the turn signal stalk?

I had someone ask today about one, and apparently there are early versions and there are late versions!

It also appears that these cars came with tilt steering columns. I rebuild Ford tilt columns for the Mustang world, and it would be interesting to know what "year version" of column is being used in these cars! I may be able to help folks fix them up!

Steve

Early Pantera, no tilt

1978 Longchamp, with tilt

OK, the Pantera one looks to be similar to the Lucas design that is in my Goose.....

I'm more wonderin' 'bout the Deauville and Longchamp versions.

The Longchamp turn signal stalk version shown is 1978 Ford. Now, what model of Ford is the question! Looks to me to be the same as in Versailles, Monarch, and Granada models. Probably the same 1978-1981ish.

The steering column is what has be interested! I rebuild Ford tilt columns, and after about 1973, there were rarely any tilts sold, if any, that didn't have a column shift with the PRNDL indicator on it! The casting piece that sits right next to the padded portion of the dash is where this PRNDL indicator would be, and in the picture it appears to be smooth!

SO, I wonder if a part from an earlier car was substituted (Mustang and Cougar), or if the part was modified??? (Smoothed and finished)

Thanks for the pictures!!!
Steve

PS: Beautiful dash layout! Reminds me of the Goose arrangement with the padded lower piece and the longer horizontal dash vents!!! Has anyone checked to see if the dash AC vents are the same as a GOose? IF so, they are rare!!!!

Hi,
Here's a picture from my 85 Deauville.
I've heard that the column is from a Lincoln. My ignition key has the Lincoln logo.

Espen,

Yes, the column "could be" from a Lincoln.... The turn signal switch appears to be similar to the 78 version shown further above. In your picture, it appears like perhaps the piece of column right up against the dash may be a custom modified part by DeT or ????

Either way, parts for these columns are not too hard to come by, to repair them. I just need to figure out what year they are based upon.

Steve

Yes, the white piece looks custom.
The issues I have with my column is a weak sentering spring for the stalk, which sometimes makes it signal left turns by itself. Also, a part of the collapsing area has cracked, making the steering wheel a bit loose. Needs some easy welding.

Espen,

I was talking about the black metal collar just above that white trim piece. That particular part doesn't look like any tilt column part I have ever worked on!

Your turn signal switch needs to be replaced if it is not centering properly. This is a common part easily found on Ebay. However, look at the wiring section and see if there are the remains of a Ford partnumber on a sticky tag somewhere....and we can figure out which switch it is! It may be missing some internal springs.....possibly could be put back in....

As for the steering wheel being loose, it probably isn't the collapsible section that is bad, but due to the large extension on that steering wheel to move it closer to the driver, I would say that the castings in the top have become worn...... That is my guess from working on these columns for 20 years or so! The knuckle in the center shaft also can loosen up too causing radial play in the shaft.

Steve

Hi Steve,
1974 Longchamp has a different column. Stalk has a single momentary contact pushbutton on the end which I have connected as a high beam flasher (the normal high beam is the old foot button next to the footrest - push on, push off) Key is the standard square headed ford that was used in Australia from about 1968 till 1989 on all falcons. Variable intermittent wiper delay is controlled from a potentiometer on the dash right next to the radio. And the column does not tilt. this is car number 2061, so one of the oldest around.

Peter

By the way Espen, check the section of the steering column where the inner sections slide within each other. In my car there was slack there so that when you turned the wheel about 10mm the lower splined section of the shaft did not move at all. This was able to be tightened up to remove the slack, but no welding was required. When you actually remove the entire centre section of the column from the car, you can easily see the relative movement between the 2 parts and see the best way to fix it.

Peter

You won't believe me, so I had to take a picture of the cracks.
Steve, the collar might be a DeTomaso part, but it doesn't look like an easy custom job (like the white leather piece). I have minor slack in the tilt and probably also on the top casting - as you say. But the cracking makes for the most of it.
And Peter, when I use a bit force I can feel the turningslack you tell about. But it's still so tight, I won't feel it when the engine is running.
Peter, are you sure you don't have tilt? Sorry to ask, but I found mine by coincident after I bought mine.

Espen,

That "cracked portion" is supposed to be there! It is part of the "collapsible" safety feature of the column.

Peter, if you could post a pic of the turn signal arm side of the column I can get a better view of the arm, plus the column. I too am surprised that it isn't a tilt!

Those turn signal arms are not easy to find! I think here in the US, they were used on cruise control setups, and they were not real popular.

Steve

Steve,
I hear you, but it still is cracked.
The left one of the six collapsible pieces (if I can describe them that way) is cracked in the weakened area and flexes. I have bent the steering wheel upwards to show the cracks more clearly.
If all the pieces in the collapsible part were just painted together, the whole unit would have been all sloppy - wouldn't it?

AHAH!!! Pardon me for the oversight! I see what you mean!

What this is telling me, is that DeTomaso ended up using the steering column to support the dash.....rather than the dash to support the steering column!!!

...I've never seen one cracked like that!!!!

Leads me to believe that there should be some other sort of support to keep the dash where the column bolts up to, from flexing... which is what appears to be happening....and the steering column lost over time!
Steve

Haha, that's a good one. But I don't think it's that bad. I believe the reason is the extension you mentioned. It's tempting to grab the steeringwheel as help for getting in and and out of the car.

Espen,
I can't easily look at the car, I am working overseas for the next month. Having completely removed the column from the car to repair it years ago, I could never find any sliding bracket or other mechanism to create a tilt. Remember these early cars had the cam gears rack, and maybe they changed columns and everything else during the transition to ZF rack.
Steve, for same reason I am unable to get a better picture of the column and the indicator stalk. This was just one I happened to have at hand.
Peter

Did you take it apart? It's not easily seen on the outside. You push the indicator stalk forward to tilt.

Hi Espen,
it would have been 21 years ago when I first bought the car! but I'm pretty certain when I dismantled the column to fix the slack (plus or minus 5 degrees with no movement at the wheels) I would have noticed a universal joint at the top. Where it meets the dash is quite different from your Deauville pics, and its a very 74 sort of arrangement. For example is the key on yours like this one?
Peter

Peter,

That particular key type was employed by Ford US from 1966 thru the late 80's.

I have original Ford key blanks of this type also, if any one is interested in new blanks with proper FORD logos on them. I can also do LINCOLN versions.....just for something completely different!

Steve

thanks Steve,
also Ford in Aus about the same duration. I had the same key in an 89 falcon. I think they are probably the most common key in any locksmith. (albeit probably not with the ford logo)
Peter

21 years! Wow, you are a real enthusiast.
Here's a picture of my keys. I don't know if they were new with the car. The other set is typical aftermarket.