Lower rag joint steering shaft - used

[1986F150Six]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/125596115638?hash=item1d3e1ca2b6:g:FKYAAOSwv75jZR-G&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAkLSUKgenmPfheKdsINEk%2FN9FColqeL7%2FXD78C4n2o7NklkSg7Tm42DNuYixJzfniUrFq11bEDznIujBVygpp4RPh%2FK4Xd%2Faxvdq6Mi%2FvBeMRQFyKb8cMs4xKnEiynzovvG2D4tI0x72xteXhpkg%2ByaXlzB6ScYiAIXr13RO7Vcu8Zv0mFXZ7PeZi%2BVkj3BC9Fg%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR4LdvNGJYQ

[Gary Lewis]

Advert says "1987-1991".  Jim - Do they fit a Bullnose?  What did you do to make one?

[ArdWrknTrk]

Look at the upper end. I think how it attaches to the shaft coming from the column differs from a Bullnose.
Slides over and bolts through instead of sliding up inside.

Yep, my '87 had a rag joint.
I replaced it twice.....

I then bought the telescoping double universal joint lower shaft from a 2014  F-150 and welded the ends from our style shaft onto it.
I was careful to get the clocking of both ends right.

It's raining right now, or I'd go grab a picture.

[Rembrant]

Gary Lewis wrote

Advert says "1987-1991".  Jim - Do they fit a Bullnose?  What did you do to make one?

Yes they do. Direct swap. I installed one in my '84 Flareside. I believe John just installed one recently as well.

[ArdWrknTrk]

Here's some pics to show what I did to eliminate the rag joint.

[Gary Lewis]

Thanks, guys.

Jim - You wrote this up, right?  I haven't found it and we need to have it where it is easily found.

[ArdWrknTrk]

I'm sure I posted pictures and discussed it when I was making the change.
I doubt I created a topic about it.

The lower cross shaped shaft with universal joints on the ends was ~$20 delivered (eBay, I can't find it in my purchase history)
All you need to know is keep the splined ends in the same orientation they were on the rag joint shaft and wrap the universals with a wet rag so they can't overheat when you weld it (I Vee'd it out deep to assure 100% penetration)

[Gary Lewis]

Let me search a bit more...

[Gary Lewis]

Jim - I need some help in finding your pics.  You started a thread called Rag Joint Elimination and a few posts in you said:

ArdWrknTrk wrote

Well, Cory that's good to hear.

Depending on delivery you may or may not be following the adventure this weekend.  

You'd ordered some parts and were planning to make the shaft.  But that's where that thread basically ends as you didn't come back to it.  Perhaps that's when the transfer case bit you?

So I went back through the log of your posts and found the one above on Page 312.  But looking at later and later posts I can't come up with where you put the shaft together.

What am I missing?

[ArdWrknTrk]

Perhaps... nothing, and I'm the one who got too involved or distracted to follow up.  

At this point I'll have to go back through Google Photos to see if I can find the pic's of lining it up and welding it together. (because there is a new-ish SD card in my phone)
This might be a good test for Lens to see if the AI can pick out similar photos in my gallery.

[Gary Lewis]

Thanks.