Mike,
What is your skill level and how many machines do you have or have access to? You can make an invisible collapsible column but it would be price prohibitive to have someone else do it. One could cut the mast jacket, after making alignment marks, and with careful measurement replace a section of the steering shaft with one from the 1960's through the 1980's that had a male DD shaft that had 6 or 8 inches of travel inside a female DD tube. All would fit inside the stock mast jacket. The finished shaft would be installed from the bottom of the mast jacket which was welded back with the alignment marks in line. As to the mast jacket itself it could have a section of expanded metal like some modern columns that would collapse but would need that section covered with a rubber or other sleeve to keep trash out. If not completely rabid about looking stock just cut the column, make a new hole in the toe board to offset column a couple inches (you won't notice the slight angle of the steering wheel), put a bearing in the cut off tube and hook shaft back together with a couple of U-joints. The U-joints will buckle in a crash if not in line. Cut below shifter box and all linkage remains unchanged. My last thought is WHY since your more apt to have someone with an exact DNA match than be impaled on an AD steering column. I must stop now before thoughts of sensors and air bags start running through the empty hallways of my brain.
