Okay- try this- find some sheet plastic and make "thrust washers" like illustrated in my 10-second paint pic. Tuck them in at top and bottom of steering column tube. To keep them in place, experiment with gluing to steering wheel flange and pitman arm. You'll have to play with various thicknesses. Look around you, there are many sources for plastic sheet, from packaging, to "for sale" signs...
This is not the best solution, but spares you from hacking and welding until it's more "convenient".
