I would have to agree, The 2 I have replaced started going south with key getting stuck among other problems. Try securing it first, cheap. Next cheapest new lock cylinder.

Turbo has the easiest housing solution. Craigslist around here has enough guys parting out their rigs you can just get the whole column pretty cheap. Probably less time to swap columns than tear column apart .

 

Thats a really good point. Watching some videos online, I think I can see what the purpose of that housing is and how I can replicate it with some redneck stuff. So I think I'm gonna do things in exactly that order, but if anyone has any more thoughts on why the key might be getting stuck, I would really appreaciate it. I'll post an update tomorrow on how its going. Thanks a lot for all the help!!

Also, I don't think its the tumblers inside the ignition cylinder because they key goes in and out of the cylinder just fine.

 

So after looking at my options I'm just going to buy a new column. It costs less than a new housing (!) and will probably solve all my problems including my bad clockspring and ratty steering wheel. Thanks again everyone for the help.

 

Just to update everyone who helped: I figured out that I have two problems. I fixed the cylinder falling out with a hose clamp and then fixed the key not coming out by adjusting the tension of the shift interlock spring. Didn't have to buy a new column!

 

Cool...

 

nice