I have 2 steering columns, one from a 72 and one from a 75. Both vehicles were p/s and auto. The 72 had the shifter on the column, the 75 on the floor. The 72 is approx. 31 inches and the 75 is approx. 32 inches. Like I told the wife, one inch can make a difference, and in this case it does. Did Ford change the steering shaft lengths at some time for some reason?
it may be that the shorter shaft was hit on the end so that it collapsed an inch. If it is pried back to clear the steering coupler this can happen. I just tapped it back out to the full length. Mike