Father-Son 1974 Duster Project

If the line is stainless I would leave it, gives the car a more finished look.

I with dartn440 pull the column the rest of the way out, change the gasket.
With the column off you can also cut the column shift bracket off and paint it nice.
The coupler on the steering box most likely needs rebuilt ($30) a pain in the butt job to do with the motor in.