[can't unlock steering column!]

What you are describing sounds the same as what I have in my 37 ford truck. I removed the electric switch. This gave me an access to wiggle(if you want to call it that) the shaft out. Good luck hopefully someone with more knowledge will reply.

[mount body on 37 ford pu]

I am restoring a 1937 ford pu. I am putting the body back on the frame, but I am not sure how much I should shim it from the frame. When I took it apart the shims and "springs" were pretty much non existant.

Thanks for any advise.