Collapsed steering shaft? Help!

When I put a manual box in my 71 Dart I pulled the whole shaft out of the column, drilled out the plastic pin or whatever it is, extended the shaft to where I needed it and reinstalled into the column without reinserting a pin or anything and never had a single problem with it ever.

But then again I was 17 and was just trying to get the thing to work and really didn't care or know better, and didn't know that that was what the pin was for, lol.

Looking back, I would prob reinstall something that would give easy in the event of a crash or who knows whatever else that chance may throw your way. lol