Steering Column Repair: Steering Column Lock Housing Rebuild, jeep grand wagoneer limited, jeep grand wagoneer

Question
I asked a question on my 81 Jeep Grand Wagoneer Limited 360 w/Automatic back in April about the steering column. You mentioned the Pre-Load Spring might be broke and referred me to some very helpful videos on rebuilding the "Typical Saginaw Steering Column". Well it seems as though mine may not be so typical. I've removed everything down to the Lock Housing including the 3 bolts that hold it down to the bearing housing. The lock housing "should slide right off" but mine won't. It seems like there is still something retaining it from inside top center just behind the gear shift indicator. I can see that there is nothing obvious and the housing moves slightly like it's free. More so turning it like a clock back and forth than pushing or pulling in and out. I only get about 1/32" to 1/16" of play. It has a tilt wheel but I wouldn't think that would matter because the one in the video was a tilt wheel. What do I do now?

Answer
Hi Lee:

Sorry for the delay in answering you...a personal family issue took precedence.
the only thing I can think that may be holding your column cover in place is the shaft that the lock cylinder turns.  sometimes they slide our a little and prevent the cover from sliding off. See if you can push that rod slightly back into the middle.
Aside form that, it may just be stuck.  I know ht older ones with a metal cover fuse themselves to the tilt housing, so I;m not sure if that;s your issue as well.

I hope you've worked it out by now

Happy holidays
Doug