Manual steering conversion

[garyp]

Hi I have a 1973 challenger with manual steering and converting to power, my question,  is  the steering column different ? and do I need to replace it
Thanks

[anlauto]

You can just collapse the inner shaft a couple of inches. Not the safest method if you're worried about future collisions, but what are the chances...

[Chryco Psycho]

There is more to it than that once you collapse the shaft the nylon pins are broken so the shaft could move upward & disconnect from the coupler , If the retainer pin is actually in place the only thing holding your steering together is a 1/8" diameter press pin that stops the shoes inside the coupler from sliding out , without the press pin really there is nothing holding it together 

[mofish]

I will be doing this conversion too....so does that mean the steering column needs to be replaced??   

[Chryco Psycho]

The internal shaft should be the correct one , breaking the nylon pins to shorten the shaft is not really the safest way to do this

[mofish]

Ok thanks CP. I appreciate it