[Russell Ashley]

I think you will need to remove the steering box and column from the truck to do what you want to do. The shaft doesn't stick out far enough on top to cut and the column jacket doesn't come out of the steering box. I think if I were doing it I would cut the column jacket and remove it. Then cut the shaft and remove the amount that you want to shorten it, and use DD or what ever method you choose to connect it back together. Then cut the exact same amount out of the column jacket, put it back on the shaft, and weld it back together. If you have a column shift you would have to shorten the shift rod the same amount as the column. I think the most time consuming thing will be removing and installing the steering box.