Steering colum removal 69 Ghia

How do you get the steering colum out of a 69 Karmann Ghia. I already have everything disconnected, but the safty crush portion near the steering box coupler wont fit through the hole in the body. Do I have to take the colum apart from the steering wheel side and pass it forward through the hole or is there somthing I'm missing. There is nothing I can find about it in the VW manual or the Haynes manual. Thanks, Rumpster (AKA virginia eddie)