Steering Column Is Trashed...Can I Save It?

[Rooster's82]

The steering column that came with my well used and pretty abused 82 is kind of trashed, but i have little money and don't mind putting in time. With that said can i "rebuild" the column? it has tilt steering which is loose as heck, i can move the wheel up and down 3 or 4 inches when it is "locked" in position. The directional switch doesn't' work (i know it is in the column, all the lights work, the emergency blinkers work, and i replaced the flasher unit for the directionals). The steering lock is hit or miss, sometimes i have to wiggle the steering wheel up and down and left and right while turning the key to release it.

Is this a lost cause? Should i just go find another column? Or can i open it up and tighten, clean, and adjust it back into good working condition? If so...here is the real question...how the heck do i get in there? the casing is solid with no viable way to access the guts of the column.

I should add, i have a doner column, but it does not have tilt...which is a must for me.