I don't know about an inch, but I think you'll find that the shaft slides in and out of a coupling upstream of the joint. You may be able to pull it long enough.

 

Yep...you can pull another inch or 2 out of the column at the firewall. It's not easy to do. I had to use alot of WD40 and a pry bar and hammer to get mine to slide.

 

I've had good luck with sticking a screwdriver through the bolt hole that connects it to the shaft. Grabbing both ends of the screwdriver and pulling on it...some do take some effort. I've had to move one an inch before.

 

i stuck a screwdriver in the bolt hole and tried pulling, but no luck. also, when i turn the wheel, the end of the column wobbles, not a perfectly straight column... is this normal? it is a 90 car with factory airbags but they are not being utilized. am i better off going to a local salvage yard and pulling a non-airbag column?

as to the shaft being too short, here's what I'm thinking. The summit coupler is not a u-joint type coupler, just a straigh piece, which puts the shaft at a harder angle. I was thinking about a coupler with a u-joint, giving me the extra inch I need, does that sound good?

thanks!

 

ok, got it. i removed the entire column and here's what I found...

The slip shaft in the column was bent ever so slightly ????? how the heck did that happen? I was able to slip it out, it was pretty snugg. I am having it bent back straight. Once that's done, the shaft and coupler will fit fine!

Another question: I want to 86 the stock steering wheel in place of something more along the lines of simple. Anyone do this and can I see pictures?

Thanks Corral!

 

as to the shaft being too short, here's what I'm thinking. The summit coupler is not a u-joint type coupler, just a straigh piece, which puts the shaft at a harder angle. I was thinking about a coupler with a u-joint, giving me the extra inch I need, does that sound good?

Did you use this coupler?

If so, it will not work because the angle between the column and rack shaft is too extreme. You need a U-Joint on the steering shaft where it connects to the rack.

I tried the same thing with cutting off the rag joint and welding this coupler on. There was no way it was going to work. I just picked up a manual steering shaft from FR.

 

Yes, that is the coupler. Thank you very much for the vital info. I am going to mate another u-joint in between the coupler and the stock u-joint.

When I get it back, I will post pictures ofthe finished product.

 

i'll post a picture of the finished product. it came out great.