What is inside a column shift steering column?

AussieDart said
Hello, I have a couple of questions re A body steering columns that I hope you can help with. My car is a 68 Plymouth Valiant. It has a column shift auto. Can anyone tell me what, if anything runs through the housing surrounding the top of the column in the engine bay as per the attached picture? I have been told floor shifts have nothing so I am wondering if it is the same with a column shift. Secondly would the steering column be a solid piece or are they hollow? Appreciate any advice you may have. Thanks.

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So I don't know if anyone looks at these old threads but this is the end result. I had the local engineering shop remove the outer column and replace it with a new column as close as possible to the inner column. Has worked out fairly well. At the end of the day as long as I can keep the originality of the column shift I am happy.

coupler 3.jpg