auto shift linkage problem

[Hezzie]

A little background...I have a '68 F100, 360, C6 from the factory. I believe at some point, someone added power steering to the truck and put in a power steering column from a different year---the wheel looks like an 80's-era wheel to me. Anyway, the shifter has never shifted correctly---there are no discernable "notches", and you have to RAM the thing into park in order for the parking gear to engage. I am thinking that the column is incorrect, and therefore does not work as it should. Anyone have any ideas on this? Should I look into finding a year-correct column in order for the shifter to work properly? Are they functionally different?
Thanks
Craig

[BobbyFord]

Sounds like it could be out of adjustment, based on having to ram it into park. Maybe the detent is broken in the trans and that is the reason that you do not feel the gear notches. Some transmissions had the detent built into the valve body, some had the case detent. Hard to say what your issue is on a 40+ year old truck, no telling what has been swapped. Pics of the column might also help...

[fordman]

most rods from our era of trucks are adjustable. i would look for that first. a pic of the column wouldnt be a bad idea.