Steering column to Intermediate shaft -- 1" or 3/4" - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

crakarjax · 08-12-2013, 03:25 PM

Hey guys,

I have a steering column and intermediate shaft that I *thought* I had pulled from my parts truck but now that I look at them a year later the column seems to have a 3/4" diameter spline and the intermediate shaft has a 1" splined opening. Am I just overlooking something here, or did GM make two different spline sizes? I believe the PO swapped from manual to power steering at some point.

crakarjax · 08-12-2013, 04:58 PM

Ok I found through some digging that both 48 and 36 spline shafts are available. My column is 36 spline and the shaft accepts 48 spline. Is it possible to convert the intermediate shaft to 36 spline? It looks like the coupling part of the assembly could be swapped out... if I could find one.

airdale94 · 08-12-2013, 10:15 PM

I think you just get 48 spline coupler. http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/store...eering+coupler

crakarjax · 08-13-2013, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by airdale94

I think you just get 48 spline coupler. http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/store...eering+coupler

I don't think that would work, I would need a 48 spline male by 36 spline female in order to attach my column to the shaft -- and I haven't been able to find such a thing.

I was thinking though, what if I got a DD x 36 spline U-Joint, and just lopped the intermediate shaft off a couple inches down? The shaft *looks* like it is DD but I haven't verified. I also don't know how much play is in the collapsible shaft.

airdale94 · 08-13-2013, 08:00 PM

I think I ran in to this same problem when I swapped my auto colum to manual. I think I wanted to use my orig. intermed. shaft and swapped the coupler. But I can't remember exactly. The shaft will collapse at least 4 or 5 inches once you get the plastic out of the pin hole, cause I shortened mine.

crakarjax · 08-14-2013, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by airdale94

I think I ran in to this same problem when I swapped my auto colum to manual. I think I wanted to use my orig. intermed. shaft and swapped the coupler. But I can't remember exactly. The shaft will collapse at least 4 or 5 inches once you get the plastic out of the pin hole, cause I shortened mine.

Thanks, that gives me something to work with. I like the look of aftermarket shafts but really, $150 for an intermediate shaft? No thanks!

MARKDTN · 08-14-2013, 04:04 PM

You just need the intermedaite shaft from the steering box donor. There are 2 different splines on the boxes and either will work.

08-12-2013, 03:25 PM	#1
crakarjax Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Kirkland, WA Posts: 1,302	Steering column to Intermediate shaft -- 1" or 3/4" Hey guys, I have a steering column and intermediate shaft that I thought I had pulled from my parts truck but now that I look at them a year later the column seems to have a 3/4" diameter spline and the intermediate shaft has a 1" splined opening. Am I just overlooking something here, or did GM make two different spline sizes? I believe the PO swapped from manual to power steering at some point. __________________ 1968 LWB C20 / AC / Wood Bed

08-12-2013, 04:58 PM	#2
crakarjax Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Kirkland, WA Posts: 1,302	Re: Steering column to Intermediate shaft -- 48 spline to 36 spline? Ok I found through some digging that both 48 and 36 spline shafts are available. My column is 36 spline and the shaft accepts 48 spline. Is it possible to convert the intermediate shaft to 36 spline? It looks like the coupling part of the assembly could be swapped out... if I could find one. __________________ 1968 LWB C20 / AC / Wood Bed Last edited by crakarjax; 08-12-2013 at 05:18 PM.

08-12-2013, 10:15 PM	#3
airdale94 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Topeka,KS Posts: 778	Re: Steering column to Intermediate shaft -- 1" or 3/4" I think you just get 48 spline coupler. http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/store...eering+coupler __________________ 68' C20. 283CI w/55CC 305HO heads, NP435 Close Ratio, Corp. 14 bolt FF 3.21, 75' front end swap (everything but the X-member).

08-13-2013, 08:00 PM	#5
airdale94 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Topeka,KS Posts: 778	Re: Steering column to Intermediate shaft -- 1" or 3/4" I think I ran in to this same problem when I swapped my auto colum to manual. I think I wanted to use my orig. intermed. shaft and swapped the coupler. But I can't remember exactly. The shaft will collapse at least 4 or 5 inches once you get the plastic out of the pin hole, cause I shortened mine. __________________ 68' C20. 283CI w/55CC 305HO heads, NP435 Close Ratio, Corp. 14 bolt FF 3.21, 75' front end swap (everything but the X-member).

08-14-2013, 04:04 PM	#7
MARKDTN Registered User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 2,129	Re: Steering column to Intermediate shaft -- 1" or 3/4" You just need the intermedaite shaft from the steering box donor. There are 2 different splines on the boxes and either will work. __________________ '83 K20-TPI '73 C10 '79 C10-ex-diesel(SOLD) '07 Tahoe(Son driving) '14 Suburban-DD '71 C10-current project



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