Rack swap but retaining factory collapsibility?

[Maybe Magpie]

In short, I've noticed that for non-airbag E30s you have to modify the steering joint in a way that removes the collapsibility that keeps it from impaling you in a head-on impact. Vorshlag makes a really neat collapsible u-joint column that eliminates the slop, but it's over $500 which is a little steep. Is there a way to swap racks but not lose the bit of safety margin a collapsible column gives you for not-$500? Obviously step 1 is "don't crash", but you never know when some dickhead drunk driver will slide out of his lane and plow into you. Given my car has no airbag I'm already not super confident in safety but I don't see a reason to make it worse, you know?

Input appreciated.

[uturn]

When I did my rack swap (non airbag car) I only had to modify the rubber donut with solid bushings. No change to the collapsing feature of the column.

With my airbag cars I had to modify the firewall. But you can get beauty plates to cover up that hack job.

[Maybe Magpie]

When I did my rack swap (non airbag car) I only had to modify the rubber donut with solid bushings. No change to the collapsing feature of the column.

With my airbag cars I had to modify the firewall. But you can get beauty plates to cover up that hack job.

Ahh, I was under the impression grinding out the rivets and replacing them with spacers and bolts on non airbag cars removed the collapsing feature as per the Pelican rack article. How did you modify the donut then?