I recently went to an Ididit column with a 14" Grant wheel (Don't order from grant unless they have it in stock !). That is a very expensive way to go, but works and looks good. I don't see you shortening the existing column unless your good at fabrication. Ididit and Ecklers have adapters for later model steering wheels on early trucks. Just my opinion, but when you change to power steering, and all the changes below that you have to do for that, it really makes sense to go with whatever column / steering wheel you want in the future and do the whole thing at that time instead of breaking the job up into 2 parts like you suggested.
