Steering Column To Steering Rack Coupling

[brainbug007]

Hi guys, having a bit of hassle with the steering and was hoping someone could help with a couple of questions. 1) I took the coupling (bit with the teeth, circled in the attached picture) from an escort at the local breakers and it doesn't fit tight enough? What have other people used as the sierra one was even bigger still! 2) how have people positioned this part so that it doesn't foul on the chassis rails when its attached to the part of the steering column that bends and has to be cut in half to form the extension?