Crazy Ignition Issue

I took the steering column out of the duster to add a steering coupler kit and the dash in order to put one that was in better shape. The thing is that when I tried to fire up the car, after I put the steering column back, the car dies as soon as I take my hands of the key. In order to keep it running I have to keep the key a little distance before of the position where the engine cranks. I checked all the cam/switch connections and the bulkhead connectors of the firewall. I even tried using another switch but the issue remains the same. Now when the car is started, with my hands keeping the key going full back, the A/C doesn´t work either. Does anyone have dealt with any similar situation or have any idea what could possibly be going wrong with this? Any help is highly appreciated, this is driving me mad now..