I’m fixing up to flip a 1989 f250. The P.O. ripped apart the housin around the shifter to get to the rod to start to truck with vise grips 🙄 (I know) no need to say it. Anyways, does anyone know how to get the shifter housing off the column. I have a new one but the one on the truck seems to be attached or welded to the linkage

 

Pretty sure, it has been a while, you may need to disconnect the steering shaft from the steering box just below the firewall in the engine compartment at the U Joint.
Then remove all the covering of the steering column inside the vehicle, then remove the bolts that hold the steering column to the dash. The entire assy will drop in your lap and now you can take it to a workbench and do what you need to do. Many times the shift tube froze to the nylon bearings due to rust expanding and jamming the tube in the bearings making it difficult to move the shift lever. Even if that is not a problem now, lube them anyway with some light grease.

 

Thank you for your response. I did have to take the shaft all the way out. Now putting all back together and have a new mind boggling issue. I’ll include photos. The first part of the column goes over the driveshaft and the shaft is secured with a bolt at the U joint. However there’s a bearing in that part that does not go over the shaft but it does fit inside the part not sure how to get it both of them onto the shaft.