I am planning to use an Ididit Column on my 63 Ford Stepside pickup. This afternoon I took my old column apart as I know nothing about what I will need when I order the new one. My question is this. Is the 3/4" shaft that runs from the steering box, through the column, and ending with the wheel attatched to it reused with a new Ididit column? I spoke with the folks at Ididit a few weeks ago and never asked that question as I was just garnering info on how to measure the column and general stuff. They informed me that their columns used a 1" DD shaft I believe and that Ford used a 3/4", so some form of something or another would have to be used in order to use my gearbox with their column...Anybody have any experience with doing this?
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Cap'n Kelly

capn you can contact Flaming River or Borgenson for one of their u-joints.Get a catalogue from each one and start reading. Give em a call. They'll be glad to help. Hope this helps you out.
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tom urban

Cap'n Kelly, Tom is correct. Call Borgeson (860) 482-8283, Flaming River (800) 648-8022, and ididit (517) 456-4133 and request their catalogs. ididit has a variety of columns that use a 1"-DD shaft, 1"-48 spline shaft or 3/4"-36 spline shaft. Reguardless of what column you get, Flaming River and Borgeson will have a universal that will connect your new column (assume its a 1"-48 spline) to an intermediate shaft that is either 3/4", 3/4"-DD, 3/4"-36 spline, 3/4"-30 spline, 5/8"-36 spline, 1", or 1"-DD. If your intermediate shaft is not one of these sizes then you'll want to buy a new shaft. There will also be choices for adapting you steering box to your new intermediate shaft. This will all become much clearer with the catalogs is hand.
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Dick Z

Thanks for the info guys! I will give those folks a call tomorrow.
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Cap'n Kelly

I just bought one for my '32 and yes the shaft end is a 1" DD. That might vary by unit, but you will need to buy some universal joints and a shaft to connect the bottom of the column to the steering box. I am not familiar with the steering box end on your truck, but I just bought two universals for my setup and they are not cheap. I found that one end can accept the 1" DD and the other a 3/4" DD for the column end. Then the steering box end will be a 3/4" DD and (???) to match your need.

Hope this helped.

i guess i'm a little on the cheap side, i bought u-joint couplers and bearing hangers that are used on pto shafts etc., on trucks to run hoists or pumps, etc. then i had a machinist cut a keyway in a shaft on one end; a little welding and thats how i connected the steering column from a 78 t-bird to the gm pickup steering gear in my project. not too spendy.
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project...39 ford pickup

rick, this isn't nessassarily about you but more just making a point.

how much have you spent on your;
engines?
transmissions?
front suspensions?
rear ends?
body and paint?
upolstery?
insurance?

and you want to scrimp on steering?

don't make sense to me........

Tom, Either your pocketbook is much deeper than mine or you dont have much experience with tractor componets and the shear strength of a 1" keyway with high strength steel. For example: My father restores antique tractors (more of a hobby than an occupation) but that got us into Lawn and Garden tractor pulling. For an Examples, Go here:

http://www.midwestsupercub.net/

http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/4795/GTINDEX.HTM

These are almost identical to but are not my tractors. We are part of the OKGTPA, which is further south.

Those of us that use solid shaft rear ends (I think we used 4140 steel 1 1/2" shaft with a keway cut for the carrier to attach to) make our own rear ends to fit into the stock axle housing. Point I am making is that if he used good materials, his parts should be fine. That is the entire idea behind looking in salvage yards. And many of you rodders will find a pletheria of parts waiting to be adapted to your Rod at the local Farm Implement dealership, with out the extra cost added by the label of Hot Rod. If you think Im kidding, go look at a tractors A/C and heater sometime. You can get just about everything possible for the system at about 1/2 the price of two of the popular Hot Rod A/C manafucturers. So why would you spend the extra money on something that you still have to work extra hard to hide under a dash??? It really distrubs me when someone thinks that you HAVE to spend extra money to get a quality product and then knocks those of us that look to other alternatives. Now, dont get me wrong....Im not advocating the use of machanical brakes of a tractor either. I dropped a ton on my stopping componets. I am just saying that not all alternative ideas should be immediatly percieved as cheap cause someone didnt drop more than a few bills for their product! Those of you that have actually read this far, Thank you for listening to my rant! -D
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Damn, I wish I had more time.
35 Ford Pick-Up

Dirk35, never thought to check a Farm Implement dealership when shopping for my A/C. I think I'm going to be sick!
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Dick Z

you're right, i don't hang out in a tractor store.
i'm not building tractors.

i AM curious about how you are attaching the joint to the steering box, though.

are the u-joints needle bearing or do you have to grease 'em?

sorry, i'm having a little trouble picturing what a pto shaft looks like coming off the steering box or rack.

lives are not at stake with an a/c unit......

besides, you've missed my point.

10-20-30K+up spent on a car for glitter and ya want to "save" on the steering parts.

deep pockets?

not hardly.......

i guess i have different priorities......

Tom, Im not saying it is OK to scrimp on the the important safety parts of a vehicle by any means. Im just saying that just cause he didnt spent a fortune on his part, that it should automatically be considered poor quality. If he spends some time in thought of the engineering of his alternative part, and some care on the creating of it, than it shouldnt have to cost a ton or be name brand necessarily. That is what I interpertated on your response to his post. Wether you meant to or not, that is how it came off to the "average" reader. One has to remember when we enter written text that you lose all inflection and a lot of meaning, hence your text can only ever be open to the precption of the reader. My perception of your text: his part is junk due to his not spending a fortune. Now, I cannot see his product to see if it is indeed any good, but he seemed proud of it, only to be chided for not spending bucks on an important area
BTW, I am using the double u-joint package with carrier from Flaming River to connect my Mustang II rack to my coulmn. But, by goodness, should I have a problem mating any of it up, you can rest assured Ill be on the milling machine and the lathe creating my own adapter to make the double "D" shaft match up. . Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah, I need not go on any more. Im done with this subject.
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Damn, I wish I had more time.
35 Ford Pick-Up

My two cents worth. I love Ididit columns, have two of them. Swapping a "standard" column out of my deuce and installing a column shift model. Hate the @#$% floor shift.
But, regarding the use of a PTO shaft and hardware, there's nothing wrong with it. A few of the local gang are building a belly tank lakester for this year's run on the salt. The steering set-up is quite unique, using PTO shafts, so the steering wheel/column can swing up and out of the way to permit driver entrance. The whole set-up has already passed safety standards for the SCTA. I wouldn't have any qualms about using tractor parts, as long as quality stadards are upheld. After all, hot rodders have been adapting all kinds of stuff to make their rides work.
I will now step off my soap box. : )
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Roadsters Rule.

dirk, i'm not saying you're wrong or the parts are unsafe but do you remember guys using sears 1/2" drive socket u-joints?
i do......

how about early pinto flexshafts?

fine idea!
they rust out from the inside!
i guess if it was me (and has been), i'd get some used joints out of whatever i was trying to tie together.
dirt cheap and seldom bad.....



still like to see how you put a keyway in a power rack/box and BTW, i'm not a big fan of welding, most people cook the bearings.....

btw, i reread my posted and i guess i still don't see why anyone should have took it as a slam.
hmmmmm.......

nope, my pockets ain't any deeper, either ;)

Two years ago they had a problem with the cone on the column. The clips were breaking. I went thru 4 of the columns before i got a good one. They sent me replacements with no problems. They said they knew of the problem, but thought they got all of them fixed.
So if you have any problems they are a good company that will work with you.

Rick
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awsum34

AAAAMEN Dirk! Some of us don't have a couple hundred large to drop on a rod, but want a good running, good looking piece anyway. I can't remember how many trips to the "Yard" I took to get the right component to modify so I could use it,i.e., power heated buckets (we need them up here) from a 929 Mazda for my 57. A little work on the supports a little upholstery and hey, we got new, good looking, comfortable, seats. You're exactly right. We need to get back to the roots of this sport/hobby/obsession...find something that will work with a little ingenuity. Billet begone
Rochie