How To Replace your Lower Column Bearing: Better and Cheaper!!!

I need to do this as well to gain some headers clearance. My car has a '68 column shift power steering column. I've already converted to a floor shifter, but the shift tube is still in the column. If I shorten the column housing and use this ER16 insert bearing, what do I need to do to modify the original column shift tube and make it work. Will this even work? Doesn't the shift tube need a support?