steering column help

[KNOT0623]

can anyone tell me how i can tell if ihave a pwer or maunal steering column? 

thanks
Russ

[hemiken]

Power steer column will be shorter in the shaft that extrudes from the firewall when mounted, and pysicaly shorter than a non-power column to look at side by side.

[vinb]

The column's are the same just the inner shaft itself is 3 1/2" different..

[Bullitt-]

just measured my power steering column shaft, from seal to end of coupler is 12 1/4"
so the manual shaft should be about 15 3/4"

[common 27]

 I was just going to post a question similar to this one except I remember reading some where that it can be modified for either one because the only difference is where it's welded.So my question is can I remove the weld and pull the shaft out 3 1/2" and reweld ?

[AMXguy]

I suppose you could, but welding on anything to do with steering components is taboo to most guys.

 Is the steering column shaft from a column shift automatic with power steering and a 4 speed column with power steering the same?

[Chryco Psycho]

yes , the inner shaft is the same auto or 4 spd , the rest of the parts are different

[common 27]

  what other parts are different? Can't I just lengthen the shaft and go?

[dutch]

I suppose you could, but welding on anything to do with steering components is taboo to most guys.

   as long as you`re not`100% sure what the chemical composition of the material is, you will not be sure if your weld is safe