Most of you already seen my previous thread "Help- How should I fix the steering column" which has led me to this new thread.

I have a 1974 Highboy with manual steering, the PO replaced the column and lower shaft and left the original in the cab. The original had turn signal problems.

I was going to swap parts from the replacement into the original and found big differences.

First, who can tell me what is year column I have in there now. It is wider at the steering wheel end.

Second, the PO made a lower shaft by welding two pieces together (see pictures). I want to make one complete steering column out of the 2. But both lower shafts boots at the steering box end are torn.

Third, the base of the column bushing (On the original one) has a part inside the column the looks welded in and houses the bushing. The replacement one had a white plastic cup with the bushing inside of it and both slide on at the base of the column. Should I rebuild the original one and how to get that piece out of the base (see picture).

Here's both lower shafts. The original one on top measures 26"
The one made by the PO is 27 1/2"


The original is on top the main shaft is 36 1/2" steering column is 29".
The replacement is 33" and the steering column is 29 3/16".


Original is on the right you can see the replacement is mush wider.