[Tx Firefighter]

Definitely no need to mess with the steering wheel and lock plate.

Be sure and remove the 10mm head bolts on the firewall that bolt the steering column surround plate down, and the two 15mm head nuts on the outside of the firewall on the column mount strap.

Once you remove those, the column will drop down and lay on the seat.

Don't forget to unclip your PRNDL wire from the column so you don't destroy it when you drop the column.