I am in the process of chasing down a starting problem on my '90 convertible, and I have changed most of the parts in the starting system. I think (hope) I have isolated the problem at the Ignition Switch. Having bought one from Jim Finn, I proceeded to replace it. What a job! I wound up taking apart everything under the dash on the driver's side. It was easier to replace the switch with the steering column out of the car, so I followed the manual and removed it. Now I am trying to reinstall the steering column and I am having NO success getting the shaft on the steering column to align with the mating clamp on the swivel fitting going to the lower shaft. Yes, I have the wheels straight ahead, and the steering wheel locked in the proper position in the column. I just can't seem to get the column to align with the coupling to drop into place. Any mechanics out there who know a tool or a trick that I am missing?

Here is a link which I hope is of some use to you. If column is similar there is some info towards the bottom which discusses removal / reinstalling steering column.

http://buickperformance.com/tiltsteeringcolumnwobble.htm

I think I know what you're speaking of. I wouldn't lock the wheel

I finally got the column back in and, yes, there is a trick to it! I was trying to connect the lower shaft to the column before installation of the column. After much upside-down work I discovered that the column just bolts into the car without connecting the swivel joint. After it is in place, you can reach up behind the end of the column with 2 fingers, and slide the swivel forward and on to the shaft. With that in place, you can install the pinch bolt and it is complete.

After all that, the starting problem was fixed by soldering a 10 cent Radio Shack resistor across the PASS-Key leads and bypassing the resistor on the key.

Thanks to Jim Finn for the tip on the resistor.