Clamp on steering shaft...

What the clamp does is hold the shaft from sliding in and out, it has little plastic pins that hold it as well. It is made so the column colapses at the correct spot in an accident instead of the column crushing your chest as you fly into the steering wheel and when the car gets hit hard in the front so it does not come into the car more. Do not drill and put a bolt in. I suggest you leave it in the place it is as it is. As for intereference. It does not hit anything.  I see you are changing to a v-8 there is plenty of room around it for the exhaust manifolds, or headers. If your headers are hitting it, you have Javelin headers not Gremlin ones. The Gremlin ones pretty much drop right after coming out the port. If you are not sure what they are post a picture, it is easy to see the difference.  If you are having trouble getting the header in, it has to come from the bottom, if you cut the rear potion of the header so there is no connection between the 3 and 4 port, you will not have to go around the dip stick, it will be up and in, also removing all the spark plugs will help.. I know you didn't ask all that I am just guessing that is your interference issue. Hope that helps. SH .