"52 vs."53 F-1 column shift

W

woodburnranch

Senior Member
I am wanting to change my '48 F-1 from a floor shift to column shift. I have not been able to locate a '51 or '52 steering column w/shift but have located a '53 column w/shift. Would a '53 work in my '48 w/o modifications? I already have a side shift transmission from a '53 Mercury. Thanks for any input. Jim
 
The 53 column may be a little longer or shorter as the cab on the 53 is much different than the 51-52 cab. Other than length the shifter mechanism should be the same.
 
A 53 Mercury transmission is a lot of modification to put into an F-1. The bolt pattern to the bell housing is different, the rear motor mount is different, the tail housing and the cross member will try to be in the same place at the same time, and you can't swap the late car bell housing in since the clutch mechanism is different.


If you have an overdrive with the round front you have a 49-50-early 51 Mercury transmission. The bell housing end will work but the cross member problem remains. Everyone I know with an F-1 who is unwilling to hack their frames ends up with 3.54 rear axle gear, now available for the Dana 41 in your truck.
 
Jim, Im sure you know what you are doing, have your reasons, etc.. and have probably thought about this.. But why would you want to change out a floor shifter? I personally think they are much cooler than the column shifter and would love to have a floor one on my 52 f-1.
 
I guess I get enough of floor shifts with all of our pickups and trucks. Column shifts are now a novelty and open up the floor area for extra seating,etc. I already had the Merc transmission and thought it would be an easy way to get an overdrive, which proves to be wrong. I would still like to replace the granny gear 4 speed with a 3 speed, hopefully a column shift. Maybe someone will chime in and inform me of when the column shift became available in the F-1, to aid me in my search. Too bad you are not close and we could do a trade!!
 
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