Steering shaft play excessive?

[toddabney]

While we are on the subject, is it ok to ask about the amount of free play while pulling in and out or up and down, depending how you look at it. I have a new steering box, a new bell coupler and a good rubber floor gasket. I have maybe 1 inch of play where the shaft comes out of the bell coupler, the shaft goes towards the driver. It is really tight going east and west but has "play" while pulling the shaft in and out. So if I'm in the right place and this all makes sense. Let me know. Thank you all again, todd