I have a refreshed '68+ style steering box with the break-away style shaft. Installing it has been near the bottom of the to-do list for several months as I focused on the brakes and suspension, but it's worked it way to the top as other projects have been completed.

I'm wondering how much much of the upper steering column I need to take apart to install it. Is the "upper tube" that has the bearings and is bolted to the dash (the steering shaft passes THROUGH the tube) the same between the two steering setups? Not needing to remove that portion looks like it would save considerable effort, so if they are the same I'll simply leave the old one in there. I do have the one from the 68 if it is necessary to swap them out. Some eyeball checking with a tape measure seems to indicate they are at least similar in length (~12").

Since my car is an automatic, there is significantly more stuff in that region to complicate removal and reassembly . . . hence the reason I'd like to avoid it unless it's necessary.