Okay, so I just bought a 1992 F-150 XLT. The only thing supposedly wrong with it was that it needed a new steering column. I bought it in SC and was supposed to drive it home to NC tomorrow. The guy I bought it from recommended a mechanic to put in a salvage F-150 column. I had planned to get home and order a new ignition cylinder + door locks w/ keys set to install myself. The mechanic came out to the seller's house to do the work, and what was supposed to be a quick job turned into, "I don't have the right column. I have to hunt one down." Okay, no problem...just call me when you're finished. I paid him $100 in advance so he could get the steering column.

Welllll, many hours later, I call him to see how it's going, and he said the new column is in and everything is working except the brake lights (these weren't working before, but he was supposed to fix these, too, while he was at it). Oh...and by the way, he couldn't find an F-150 steering column, so he used a 94 Ford Mustang one from the salvage yard.

What? Is that even safe? I can't find any information on the net anywhere saying that these steering columns are interchangeable. I called another mechanic who said that he couldn't imagine that it could be done without some creative surgery, which freaked me out.

So now I'm in a quandary. I really do need to get home tomorrow, but I did *not* want a Mustang steering column. I don't even know if the 92 F-150 ignition cylinder/door lock set would work with that steering column (or would I buy one for a 94 Mustang? If so, would the door locks work on the F-150? Have no idea...I really am a noob here).

I'm really upset at the mechanic for doing this without even calling me first. However, if I just don't finish paying him, I'm sure he'd keep the $100 I already gave him as well as the Mustang steering column after I have somebody else come out on short notice to pull it out and replace it with an F-150 one. And yeah, I know another mechanic with the right steering column.

Then again, am I getting so upset over nothing? The mechanic says he didn't have to Frankenstein anything to get the new column in...that it was a simple switch. The other mechanic who is willing to put in the right column (after probable WWIII with the one who won't get the rest of his pay) says that can't be true. So, good forum peeps... who is right? Should I just take the Mustang one if it seems to work?

 

I'm not sure on compatibility but just look behind the kick plate and drive it with some hard turns before you take off on a road trip. As for door locks/key cylinders they are pretty universal when it comes to manufacturers (most fords will work in most fords, chevy's to chevy's and so forth) when kept in the same general era. According to rockauto the part # for mustang ignition lock cylinders are the same for both mustangs and f150 from 94 so just order either one, you will end up with the same part.

 

Ford used that same column in pretty much everything at the time. I've done a side by side comparison with F150 and Taurus/Sable columns. Same thing, a couple of the bolt on pieces get swapped over maybe. And the ignition (key) unit is the same.
I think the first mechanic probably pretty much has it under control.