shortening steering column

[dantimdad]

I am going to shorten my column by 3 inches.

The problem is it was a 3 speed and now it's a 5 speed so I don't need any of the linkage. I need to know if I can just remove all of the steering linkage and the tube and not have an issue from doing so when I reassemble.

Also, does anyone make a replacement collar so I don't have the shift lever hole anymore? Or, should I just weld up the whole after cutting off the mounting point.

Thanks,
Steven

[Rich 5150 69]

You can remove all of the linkage, you`ll have to disassemble the column, shorten both the inner tube and the outer tube same length, re-weld the tubes and weld the outer to the inner just to keep them from rattling, don`t ruin the plastic collar at the bottom and reuse, the bell portion of the column nobody makes you`ll have to grind off and I believe it is pot metal which you can`t weld you`ll have to figure out another way to refinish. Ididit years ago use to sell bell covers for this application but no longer does.

[dantimdad]

Thanks for the input!

I will proceed soon and take pics.

Steven

[63burban4x4]

if you can find a truck or column from a truck that had a 4-speed floor shift, the column will have a plain bell, no shifter or linkage, I think.

[theastronaut]

I shortened my 4 speed column a while back, those are pretty simple to do. You can find the smooth bells on ebay fairly often.


These links show where I cut mine.

Outer sleeve:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...&postcount=200


Steering shaft:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...&postcount=203

[dantimdad]

I took inspiration from your thread, actually.

So it's called a bell. In all the years I worked on these trucks, I thought it was called a collar. Learn something new every day.

Thanks!

Steven

[yote1234]

gread thread... this will also work on an automatic?