Steering column swap fun??

[bptactical]

So my 79 AT CJ7 's tilt column is trashed. Typical wobble but the bearings are trashed plus it sat exposed to the elements.
Short of dumping a load of cash to rebuild it I went to the boneyard and scored a 84 AT, tilt column out of a 84 Chevy truck for $40.
One reason I wanted to swap was to move the dimmer from the floor to the column.
After poking around on the webz and comparing the two side by side a couple of differences are clear.
The truck column is a couple of inches too long but I should be able to drive the inner tube in a couple of inches.
The shaft on the 79 is splined whereas the 84 is the double d configuration. Is there any reason I can't swap the shaft from the 79 into the 84 column?
Also with my CJ being AT, the shift indicator is on the column. The indicator on the 84 was in the dash via a cable from the shift collar.
Any creative ideas for getting a reliable shift indicator on the column on the 84?

Looking for any advice and input.
Thanks

 

[bptactical]

Bueller......... Bueller?
Anybody?

 

[Jimbos76cj]

Honestly you are asking alot of general questions. To me I would either rebuild the stock one (bearings are not the much) and the wobble can be easily tightened.

Or pick up on from a yj. will bolt right in and have the handle for high beams.

if you pull the columns arpart you might be able swap the lower shafts between the 2. Actually you should be able to swap the whole lower columns between em. It out seein it the pick up one thats the best guess I can give you.