Steering Column Repair: shift tube 170 F 250, tube problem, tilt column

Question
I am having a problem with the shift tube mechanism in my 1970 F 250 truck.   It happened once before I had ended up removing the steering column and then re-assembling it, and it worked again.  The problem seems to be that the shift tube becomes disengaged from the shift lever that connects to the transmission on the engine side of the firewall.  The shift collar near the shifter also broke, though I think this occurred after the shift tube problem.  I have a new shift collar, and am trying to figure out if there is a way to fix the shift things without having to remove the steering column again.   Any info would be appreciated.    
Thanks.

Answer
HI Cedar:

I believe you can replace the shift bowl without taking the column out, but it means disassembling the upper end.  It's been 30 years since I rebuilt one like that.  I don't think you have a tilt column, so it's just a matter of getting the upper end apart and sliding the new bowl onto the tube.
I would double check with another expert to be sure.  This one's a little too old for my confidence
level to be 100%

Good luck
Doug