Time to Play 'What did I screw up?'

[TDS-MN]

Hey All,

Yup, the title of the post is accurate. I've got a problem, which I DIDN'T have prior to working on the old truck. Hoping that someone here might have an idea of where I went wrong. If you choose to respond with "A friend told me. . . " That's fine!

To set the stage, I had loosened my steering column to replace what I thought was a bad ignition switch. removed the bracket that holds the column to the dash, and all of the bolts at the inside of the firewall where that plate attaches. Never did completely remove the column, even though my 'trusty' Haynes manual suggested it for the ignition switch replacement.

After a couple times thru the remove and replace game, and the truck still not having any volts, A friend and I FINALLY noticed that I had a wire that had corroded/fallen off of the junction block on the firewall. So that was why I had no volts at the ignition switch. But now it does start with the key again, at least!

Anyway, the current problem, now that the truck starts, is that I cannot move the shift selector out of Park. Wondering if there could be something within the steering column that I didn't get put back together correctly? Or if it is simply the linkage where it connects just below the master cylinder? Or any other ideas you may have that I can check. Never had any issues with the shifter before this. I know there's a 'lock' for teh steering wheel, which disengages when you turn the key, but am not sure if that same method may be applied to theshift lever as well? Or did I maybe simply over-tighten something? I have been hesitant to force the lever, up until this point.

As memory serves, the only linkage between the column and transmission is that one connection point, with a cotter pin, at the top of the rods that go downto the side of the transmission.

Any ideas you can share, or experience you may have had with similar problem, would be GREATLY appreciated. I really miss driving the old truck!