The thrust washer arrangement was just to take the end load from the spring "upstairs". It may have worked without it, but it didn't hurt to add it. I searched to find a bearing that would drop in without machining and was unsucessful, but the upper mast bearing is working fine. I never did get around to adding more column support. It is still just the clamp at the dash and the flange at the floor. One of these days, but it is working fine. I did have to add a ground lead from the rack to the frame so the horn would work.
3600 miles now - just finished a 560 mile round-trip fishing expedition with no problems.
