Tried doing the retro xj steering shaft!

[Chad neel]

So yesterday I scored on a xj steering shaft for the ol pick up! I jumped the gun and went to the pnp got a freshly new one someone recently changed out so. I wake up get to taking out my old rag joint. "Cut" because I don' need it right? Well well well I didn't find this forum until it was too late because that upgrade don't work and a 1973 k10 so with my truck being a paper weight what's the best route replace the colum with a newer D style shaft or say f$%# yea get er done and grind this one down and drill it out?

 

[1987 GMC Jimmy]

Hmm. One safe bet would be to find a 1980 model column and swap it in. I don't think there should be many electrical differences. I wouldn't swap one newer than 1983. Or you could do this...

http://www.gmsquarebody.com/threads...a-early-79-and-down-column.20468/#post-380649

 

[Honky Kong jr]

So yesterday I scored on a xj steering shaft for the ol pick up! I jumped the gun and went to the pnp got a freshly new one someone recently changed out so. I wake up get to taking out my old rag joint. "Cut" because I don' need it right? Well well well I didn't find this forum until it was too late because that upgrade don't work and a 1973 k10 so with my truck being a paper weight what's the best route replace the colum with a newer D style shaft or say f$%# yea get er done and grind this one down and drill it out?

What part of the world are you in?

 

[74 Shortbed]

Just get an adapter.

 

[rpcraft]

Why didnt' the XJ shaft work out? What was wrong about it?

 

[Honky Kong jr]

Why didnt' the XJ shaft work out? What was wrong about it?

The column is different where the shaft goes on, on the earlier trucks.

 

[rpcraft]

The column is different where the shaft goes on, on the earlier trucks.

Interesting to know. I had wondered if they were applicable across 4wd and 2wd but never thought there might be a break in the years of the 4 x 4.

 

[Chad neel]

I live in California the upper part of the shaft don't work I like that ebay option is prolly the best route

 

[Honky Kong jr]

Interesting to know. I had wondered if they were applicable across 4wd and 2wd but never thought there might be a break in the years of the 4 x 4.

Pretty sure it’s 2wds too that are different. I put one on my 87.

 

[74 Shortbed]

The column is different where the shaft goes on, on the earlier trucks.

Somebody posted the size of the adapter for older trucks not too long ago, I saved it but I'll be damned if I can find it now..

 

[Honky Kong jr]

Somebody posted the size of the adapter for older trucks not too long ago, I saved it but I'll be damned if I can find it now..

Probably easier to do a column swap lol but I have 2 spares, so it’s easy for me to say that.

 

[74 Shortbed]

Probably easier to do a column swap lol but I have 2 spares, so it’s easy for me to say that.

Don't know about that, you just swap ends, what 1 minute, lol..

 

[Honky Kong jr]

Don't know about that, you just swap ends, what 1 minute, lol..

Ok even easier lol

 

[74 Shortbed]

Ok even easier lol

 

[hatzie]

Hmm. One safe bet would be to find a 1980 model column and swap it in. I don't think there should be many electrical differences. I wouldn't swap one newer than 1983. Or you could do this...

http://www.gmsquarebody.com/threads...a-early-79-and-down-column.20468/#post-380649

1973-1977 used a different Harmonica plug than the later columns.