Installing four speed tilt column

[beaterC10]

The Fedex man dropped off my Ebay four speed tilt column this afternoon. It apparently was not out of a truck, it is 2" shorter from the column mount to the end of the column. It's in good shape and the price was right, so o thought I would take a shot at using it.

Some quick measuring leads me to believe that if I lengthen the shaft that couples the column to the steering box, I'll be in business. The rest of the column is the same as the 83 truck column shift tilt I have.

Looking at the coupling shaft it looks like I could disassemble the shaft and replace the DD shaft with a longer one and get the 2" back that I am missing from the column.

Has anybody modified steering shafts? Is there something I'm missing? Before someone screams at me, let me say I don't intend to do anything
half a--. Since the street rod guys do it on a regular basis with GM parts, I figure it must be possible.

Dave

[dswancutt]

Dave;

I read you post and checked my 79-84 parts illustration manual and if I am reading it right, the only thing that is different from a manual to an automatic is the outer tube. The actual tilt mechanism is the same for both. Do you want me to scan the parts breakout and email it to you?

Doug

[beaterC10]

That would be great. You can send it to me at dtreasoner@aol.com. If the columns are really that similar, maybe I could build one truck 4 speed column from both of them.

Thanks,

Dave