If you want to keep your existing steering wheel then you could try to extend the shaft.
What you should do is obtain a spare steering column assembly from a breaker yard and examine it as regards making any modifications rather than mess about with your existing setup....you may need to cut the shaft and have an extra section welded in at the lower bit by a professional engineering firm...you may then be able to extend the whole steering assembly outwards by means of spacers so that all the covers, clockspring etc. moves outwards as one.
The shaft is held in at the lower section by some spring clips; remove these clips and the shaft pulls upwards and out which will give you access to the shaft to cut/weld/grind etc.
I had to remove the shaft to replace the small bearing at the top which the dealers said was not replaceable....I was supposed to buy the whole steering shaft assembly for some ridiculous amount....ended up buy a bearing for about $5.00
