Pretty sure some of this is right. This info was in my locked garage next to my 46 CJ2a. Some in a locker at my AA meeting leader's Gym. I like to keep important things in safe places.
To Wit:
Any column could be bolted to your truck with its's brackets or your brackets or a combo or fab. Any GM steering wheel fits any GM column.
You will need to figure out the crossmember for trans, probably remove the old trans cross member. Remove the clutch pedal. You will need an "automatic" radiator....and a kickdown TV cable and brackets. Neutral safety switch.
The 700 came out in 1982, maybe a donor 4 speed column from that era would be smart. It would have the throw, the linkage and the indicator.
The 80's square body linkage will start with a rotating movement at the column which will operate a reciprocal motion lever to a "bell crank" which rotates a lever which is coupled to the 700r4 and rotates the trans shift shaft. (available on ebay sometimes)
You can use floor shifters as I mentioned earlier. A Lokar 4 speed look-alike or a Hurst style.
There are also cable shift kits to bypass all the linkage and can be operated by the column. That would be the overall easiest method for an automatic column. It may be possible to rig one of those to a 3 on tree lever.
........and there are rod arm kits from the column to the 700r4. One rod, some brackets. This could be even easier than the cable.
The hookup to the steering box of a donor column is a separate issue but plenty doable.
Any donor column turn signal switch will wire up.
You can still use the dash key if you wind up with a column key. I did that once, used the column key to lock column and dash key to start. You could shave off the column key boss and plug it.
Tilt is nice.
All this info is given Pro Bono and Por Solo Una Luna.
