Steering shaft 1 piece vs 2 piece

[leftylou]

I bought an original non-tilt steering column to replace the one that came in my ‘70 c10, the one in the truck was missing a lot of stuff. The one in my truck came out of a ‘68 so the steering shaft it one piece from the steering wheel to the steering box with a rag joint connecting it. The “new” column came out of a ‘70 which would have been a 2 piece shaft. I have the top half but not the lower half that connects to the steering box. My question is, what is the benefit of the 2 piece shaft? Would it be worth hunting down the lower part I need or should I just stick with the 68 shaft in the 70 column?
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[HO455]

The 2 piece shaft is safer in front end collisions. Less chance of the steering wheel getting shoved through your chest.

[ghackett1]

I have a lower shaft (Intermediate shaft) if you need one let me know.

[70STOVEBOLT]

The 67-68 columns are also 2 piece they just don’t have the spring in the middle. Look closely at the shaft above the tag joint and you will see 2 shear pins. They are hard to spot but they are there.

[ghackett1]

Originally Posted by 70STOVEBOLT

The 67-68 columns are also 2 piece they just don’t have the spring in the middle. Look closely at the shaft above the tag joint and you will see 2 shear pins. They are hard to spot but they are there.

When I changed my 68 standard steering column to a tilt column there was also just a long shaft with no intermediate shaft. Then I received my tilt column and it was short with a splined end and I had to find an intermediate shaft to connect it from column to rag joint.

[leftylou]

Originally Posted by ghackett1

I have a lower shaft (Intermediate shaft) if you need one let me know.

Awesome! I’m sending you a pm.
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[pjmoreland]

Having the intermediate shaft with the joint in it makes it easier to remove and install the column. The non-bending 67-68 shaft makes it a real pain to maneuver the column through the hole in the firewall.

[68 C10 Driver]

Originally Posted by 70STOVEBOLT

The 67-68 columns are also 2 piece they just don’t have the spring in the middle. Look closely at the shaft above the tag joint and you will see 2 shear pins. They are hard to spot but they are there.

Thanks for confirming that. Mine is a 68 and I had thought it was a 2-piece shaft. I was worried there for a minute.

[ghackett1]

Originally Posted by 68 C10 Driver

Thanks for confirming that. Mine is a 68 and I had thought it was a 2-piece shaft. I was worried there for a minute.

My 68 definitely does not have an intermediate shaft. I had a column shift 3 speed manual column and it was not a two piece. I have or had a solid steel rod that goes straight through to the rag joint (Original truck). When I switched to a floor shift tilt column I needed to find the intermediate shaft which I was able to do (Found Used) and it was installed so now I do have two piece. So some do and some don’t. This may be 67 & 68 only not sure.