You don't need a longer one...although the choice is yours if you want to go find one.
Here is what I did and some may do it differently.
You will need a vice,drill,hammer and welder.
I have a 1980 Toyota with rears up front, hi-steer...so, That in mind here you go.
after removing the steering shaft. If you look somewhere in the middle on the shaft. You will find two small holes...seemed to be filled with plastic(inserts). Drill out the two small holes. I don't recall the bit I used but it was same diameter or slightly larger by a few hairs.
I then...(and if yours is rusty maybe start a few days ahead) put some PB Blaster between the two half's.
I then placed the small side facing up (closest to the steering wheel) on my vice. Leaving some room between the small inner shaft and outer(facing down).
Place a open end wrench or crescent wrench on the small side of the shaft so that it will butt up against the larger one.
Smack with a regular hammer until the two start to separate.
Here you can tap it to the length you need. For myself I completely removed the two half's.
Removed the plastic inserts
I cleaned up the bigger shaft because it did mushroom out some.
Figure out the length you want to set it at and tack weld the two half's where the Small meets the large. (Picture above)
Now your done. But be warned. The reason and this thru hear say and it makes sense.
The steering shaft was designed to calapse in case of a front end collision.
That being said tack welding the two shaft back should be small welds.
Enough to keep the two half's together but yet small enough that they can separate in a crash.
It's up to you.
my dust shield was gone when I got the truck...and this is the space I set it at. the cab will flex so give some room for that. again your call on how much engagement you want and slip.
I hope all that made sense.
Mike
