OK, I have been looking for these for years (literally!). Today, I called the Ford dealer up and asked the part guy "how far back does your catalog go?" He said 1980, so on a whim, I asked if he could order a turn signal cam from a 1980 F-150 for me, just to see if it will fit. I figure '80 isn't too far from '77, which has the same cam as my '74. Does anyone know if any other cam from '80 on MIGHT fit? Just in case this F-150 one doesn't? I will buy 3 when/if I find one that fits... Good thing is, he found them locally, so if it is not the right one, I don't have to pay for it.
I have bought 3 so far...they were the right shape, but without the steel backing. Without the steel back, the plastic flexes enough so that either clicking on, off, or both won't work. The body flexes when it should stay stiff to push the cams into their "clicks". I had one that you had to really force into right, then unclicked when I turned, but I could not force it enough to click into left, and another that worked exactly opposite. Then one that worked just fine to the right, and left, but would not unclick out of the left. If I don't find one that works right, I will have to buy the plastic one and epoxy or rivet it onto my stock steel plate... This is really a minor issue, but it bothers me because it is the only issue I have met that I couldn't fix or buy parts to overcome. Even after 4 years.
After all the hassle of getting this part, this has been one of the solutions floating around in my mind. By the way, what is the expected lifespan of those little arms in the cam? Do I need to buy two, or expect the worst and buy 3 or 4, if I find them?
I don't think there is any definate life span for those things. Maybe at least 10 years? The one in my '72 still works great, as does the one in my '73 2 door. But the ones in my '69, '73 4 door, '74 Grabber and '76 are all broke. I guess it depends on how many miles the car has, how the was stored over the years (indoors/outdoors), and what environment it has been in the most (hot/cold).
The one in my 74 is original ... works fine .... The floor shift steering column in my 71 Grabber as far as I know originally came out of a 73 Grabber ... that one also still works fine ...
Been to the yards, asked Jamie...just not finding them, or not getting access to them. Some yards say you have to buy the entire steering column, or some such crap...
I would appreciate that Holic. If you have any good ones, I would be willing to buy at least 2. I don't want to have to look this hard again, if my next one breaks. I know they are a hassle just to get to, especially for the $10 they are worth. Gotta yank the steering wheel, all that crap... Maybe that is part of why I am so obsessed with getting this working, since I have taken mine apart nearly 20 times trying to mess with it and make it work.
Figured It Out I talked to the parts guy at the local Ford dealership. He is pretty knowledgeable, and one of those guys who gives you two answers for every question...the Ford Dealer "correct" answer, and the answer that actually works! He said Ford never let aftermarket make the steel-backed cam, and the only way to buy it now is with the entire turn signal assembly with the wiring harness ($85). Then I would have to re-wire it so that it would work correctly on my car. He said what he did to his was cut out the rivets that hold the back onto the plastic cam, buy an aftermarket plastic replacement, drill a couple extra 3/16" holes, and make JB Weld "rivets" to hold the steel back to it. He said he has gone many years without any problems with his set up this way. So...I think I got it figured out. Hopefully, I haven't thrown away all the other plastic cams, if so, just $10 more bucks, $3 worth of JB, and click-click
