Manual to power steer question

Old school method is defeat the sheer pins in the collapsible column shaft to shorten it a little. Change the box coupling from the manual box shaft size/fit to the power box shaft size/fit.
I'm doing the opposite I'm converting form power to manual. I have read about beating the shaft out to make it longer so I dont have to buy the adapter. I guess you can beat it in for the opposite? My question is where does the movement come from? Is there extra shaft in the column itself? I have never had one apart would it be easier to disassemble it and pull it out the the correct length? Or does it not work like that?