Long shot here, but make sure the column shifter is in park (I'm sure you tried that, but....). I struggled for days until I rotated the column to Park (if not Park, try others). Even if you have a floor shifter, it matters where the column shifter shaft is rotated.
These cars were suppose to be easy. Your having issues I never had with my three. I am going back an check service manuals on that one. When I get home. I forgot to take a picture of the column. Need to start making notes to myself. Talk later Hairy. Sorry for all the problems your having.
I see you say the car is a manual and it is in reverse. You might also try wiggling/rotating the column "collar" directly below the "collar" with the ignition switch in it.
Here is a switch that was used between 71-5/15/73 on left and the switch used between 5/15/73 – 1/76 switch on the right. Notice the thickness of the pin and width of the tongue. I don't have a switch used between 2/76-77 to compare what could be different.
oh damn guess what this new one does not look like that. but according to schroensr's book it's right. the pin is small but the end of the shaft does not have that space in the middle. but it's like that for both of my cylinders and every new one i look at (rockauto) is the same way.
that won't work unfortunately because the later ones appear to have a wider ridge where the pin sits and my column HAS to be the correct column because it's the right size for the cylinders i have now. I rotated that collar you guys suggested and it doesn't even move the slot at all.
