Hot Rods GM525 steering box in 40 Ford Pickup

I've researched numerous postings on installing GM525 steering box in 40 Fords and have not been able to find information I need. My question is regarding steering U-joints. I have a GM steering column, can I get by with a single U-joint or do I need a double? When looking down from above, the centerline of the steering box input shaft and the centerline of the steering column are not parallel, they are very close but not exactly parallel. I'm guessing maybe 5 degrees out of parallel. Looking from the side there is no question the need for a U-joint. Your thoughts, Thank you.

 

I would think you are ok.

 

I have a 525 in the Produce truck(35). I had one joint originally, but when I bought the new steering box, it was just a little off from the original and it had a pretty severe side load, so I opted for a second one. It really depends on the placement of your column. The second joint will extend the life of your bearings I would think.

 

I believe the primary use of a double u-joint is to accommodate angles over the maximum of 30 degrees of the single. as @Roothawg stated above, you're probably best with a single at either end of the shaft, one at box and one at column.

 

Here’s mine.
40 pickup, 40 car column with shaft modified, 525 box with extended input shaft.
Worked fine with just a single u-joint.

 

Here is mine, with the lower support to the frame, 3 speed manual.

 

When I did my 40 I used the bolt on frame bracket from P&J's that requires removal of the stock steering mount and bolts into the frame. I had to use 2 joints because my 525 box had the short input shaft. If I had gotten the long input I could have used 1 joint. Everything lined up perfectly with the I Didit column thru the stock hole.

 

That’s exactly what happened on mine. My new box was the short shaft.

 

I recently sold myy '38 Ford pickup to focus on my '55 Ford, but that's the box I used with a column from a '76 Monte Carlo. I found '80s front wheel drive big GM cars are a great source for quality U-joints. I pulled the U-joint I needed from a mid'80s front wheel drive Cadillac. NEVER USE A RAG JOINT TO COMPENSATE FOR ANY MISALIGNMENT IN STEERING SHAFTS!!! Rag joints are designed to do one thing, absorb shocks being transmitted to the wheel when you hit a bump in the road. They are guaranteed to fail if they are operating in a bind.