Stock column for p/s swap questions

I've got the stock column removed and the Saginaw swap all mocked up. I would like to re-use the stock column by cutting it down to length and getting a u-joint for the round inner shaft. No problems there... However, I fail to see how to "locate" or hold the column in place now with the Ross box removed? The outer shell is clamped in place under the dash, but the inner shaft sort of floats in and out of the shell, at least an inch... I know a bushing is supposed to be installed between the shell and the inner shaft down near the new u-joint connection, but that will only locate it radially, not axially. What's the trick here?? Is my steering column just worn out or something, allowing this axial movement???

 

This is a photo of the ones I make, sold one to (m38a1diesel) last week. You can make something similar. I just make them kind of fancy. Mounts on the inside floor and the column passes thru the hole and the clamp tightens down so it won't slip around or move.

 

I used a T90 bearing retainer for mine.
col tube slides right over
then a clamp to hold it

nice design Mike BTW !

 

Cool ideas, but perhaps I wasn't clear enough in my description... The INNER shaft of my stock column moves in and out independantly of the outer shell. I have no problems capturing the outer shell with a setup similar to the one pictured (very nice, BTW), but what holds the inner shaft in place axially? Like I said, I understand the bushing to hold it radially in the center of the outer shell, but what keeps the inner shaft from "floating" up and down? The U-joint connection will not be flush with the firewall in my setup, but is that how people normally hold the inner shaft in place? I can see that the weight of it will likey hold it in place while static, but holding onto it while bouncing through the rocks will not be a fun feeling as the wheel floats up and down toward my face...

 

Mount the bushing in the end of the the steering tube before you cut down the inner shaft. Then cut down the inner shaft so the ujoint on the bottom butts up against the bronze shaft bushing. When the ujoint is bolted on it locates the column axially.

 

place a collar over the shaft where it extends from the tube
use 2 set screws to hold the collar to the shaft
keeps it from pulling up
acts like a lock ring

 

Ahhh, now that makes good sense. So I'll trim the column shell to barely protrude through the firewall, put a "clamp" around the inner shaft at that point to rub against the bushing, which is barely peeking out of the shell, and then the u-joint will attach below that. Thanks guys!!