69 F100 Steering Coupler Removal

[donutcat]

1969 automatic with power steering. Looking to remove all of the original steering coupler since we're moving to a u-joint. Got the rag and the coupler off the steering box, but we can't figure out how to get the piece of the coupler off the column itself. No set screws visible, using a puller did nothing, using the heat wrench and a slide hammer also did nothing. Needs to come off since using another rag joint isn't an option due to adding a body lift to clear the gas tank under the bed.

[basketcase0302]

"donutcat"]1969 automatic with power steering. Looking to remove all of the original steering coupler since we're moving to a u-joint. Got the rag and the coupler off the steering box, but we can't figure out how to get the piece of the coupler off the column itself. No set screws visible, using a puller did nothing, using the heat wrench and a slide hammer also did nothing. Needs to come off since using another rag joint isn't an option due to adding a body lift to clear the gas tank under the bed.

AFAIK it can not be removed. I'm looking at a very good pic of the steering column flange on my 71' 2WD, (but won't play photobuckets name your price game to upload sorry). If memory serves me right the flange on the steering column shaft is integral, (with that shaft and either welded or pressed fit)?
Maybe someone else can chime in here otherwise but i believe you'd have to change the column to get one, (My 76' early Bronco had one with a u-joint).

Edit: I found a good image of one.

[sargentrs]

I got mine off but it was tough. The plate is pressed on to the splined shaft and the the end of the shaft is flared out (swaged). You can see how it was done by looking at the end the shaft. I took it to work, in the weld shop, where we had a 6" piece of 1-1/2" pipe welded vertically on one corner of a heavy table. I dropped the shaft thru the pipe and had a friend with a cutting torch heat the plate cherry red around the end of the shaft. Then I held the shaft at the bottom end, pushed it up all the way to the pipe and SLAMMED it down as hard and fast as I could. After about 5 tries it popped off and flew across the shop.

[donutcat]

Thanks for the advice, we'll probably pull the shaft out and try heating it and knocking it off with something or other.