F1 box, '40 wheel incompatable!?! AV8?

So, I'm swapping the steering box on my project from the flyweight, upside down Christ Craft box, to the much more traditional '48 F1 box in an attempt to up the percentage of "Ford" in the jalopy.

Well, when I got the nut off the steering wheel, I spotted a problem. My box is splined. Every '40 wheel I've ever had is keyed.

So, I read and re-read my "Trad V8" book to see how Mike did it. In the steering chapter, there is no mention. In the Controls chapter, Mike skirts around talking about column length and proper positioning and even mentions that if unmodified, the steering wheel will be sticking up too high, BUT he never says "cut the shaft and weld on the end of a keyed shaft".

SO!

Do I have an oddball steering shaft?

Do I have to cut it down and splice on a keyed shaft? I'm not scared about cutting and welding a steering shaft, but if there is a simpler solution, I'll go that route.

 

I think you figured out the solution. i had to cut and splice for mine.

 

48-52 F-1 shafts are splined not keyed.

 

I spliced mine. I wanted the steering lock too.