to keep your keys a two key set instead of a three key set you can swap the tiny little key readers from your original tumbler that matches your door locks into a new tumbler. i did it on mine AFTER i got tired of having one too many keys. there is a little cover on the tumbler that holds everything in. be careful, there are tiny little springs but nothing thatyou can't handle? as far as the column goes, it's kind of a dig in and get it thing. sounds like you have the idea. the coupler on the end of the shaft is splined with a flat spot to index it. there are differences in the rag joint and clamps for different steering boxes(saginaw and Ford), but if the elec plugs look the same you prolly have a column that will swap. only one way to really find out though...