Extra steering column joint on 1970, can it be swapped with a 67 ??

[Green Machine]

Pulled the steering column from my 1970 C10. Truck originally had a 6 banger and a 3 spd manual. I noticed that there is an "extra" joint about a foot or so up from the stering box. What does that do ? My 68 does not have this nor does the floor shift column I wanted to put in there from a 67 since I have converted to a floor shift. Can I use the floor shift column from the 67 in the 70 ? Also I noticed today that the 67 column is loose on the shaft at the bottom, does that need a new bearing/bushing in there ? Thanks.
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[pjmoreland]

You can install the older style rigid column in your '70 with no problems. I don't know this for sure, but you may be able to use the entire inner steering shaft from your '70 3 spd manual column inside the '67 column. I've heard that the government started requiring a joint in the steering column in '68 as a safety feature so that the column will buckle during a collision instead of having the steering shaft pop out of the column and smack you in the face (same year they started requiring sidemarkers and running lights that are lit when the headlights are lit).

If the steering wheel is not installed on the '67 column, it might just feel loose because the steering wheel isn't there to keep the bearings preloaded.

[Green Machine]

So it may be possible to crossbreed some parts between those columns ?? It would seem more correct to use the shaft with the joint from the 3spd 70 and use the outer shell from the floor shift 67 column ? Getting everything painted so some dissasembly may be required anyway. Any special tools required ?? Thanks

[pjmoreland]

Other than a puller for removing the steering wheel, you shouldn't need any special tools for disassembling the columns.

My mom grew up in Denison, Iowa, which is in western central Iowa. I've only been there once though.

[purple gas]

I just took apart a 3spd manual, and pJ is right, once the steering wheel is off it all comes apart. All I was doing was scavanging the rubber gromet parts, so I wasn't being careful. From what I've seen inside a 3 spd maual, 2spd powerglide , and van tilt column many parts are interchangable. But there's some little ones so be careful not to loose any. Someone on here may be able to provide the link to an exploded view of the columns that was a huge help to me, rebuilding mine. wish I had saved it