If you have the old-time armored cable ignition the switch is held into the dash both by
the lock cylinder and two screws immediately below the switch in the bottom of the dash.
To take the cylinder out turn the key to the "ON" position and then find the button on the
barrel of the switch. It is pretty much invisible but is right behind the dash panel at about 10:00.
Push the button with something like a dental pick and it will release the lock cylinder which will
then come out the front. Then you can take the lock out and it will hang by the armored cable.
Not sure how this will help except it will make the other wires to the back of the switch
easier to examine.
I doubt if the shifting problem is related to that. More likely the cap that holds the shift
lever into the tranny lid has come unscrewed partway. (inside the boot)
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George Downs Bartlesville, Oklahoma