Slack in steering shaft
First, you have to sign up on the web site you referenced to be able to view the picture. See if you can save that image to your computer and then add it to your post here as an attachment.
Second, you are missing so many major components, it might make more sense trying to locate another column. You will have the slop until you replace most all of those missing parts. The spring-loaded rear third of the housing with the "depress lever to remove key" is just that... with all the locking hub and other parts installed, you really do have to press the lever down toward the floor so you can remove your key - it leaves the steering wheel locked for anti-theft purposes (more modern cars began using buttons, etc. you have to press).
You need to find someone with a discarded column they won't mind gutting for you (rendering theirs useless) or replace yours completely. To be honest, I have not seen a column for a floor shift car, but it doesn't make sense to have the gear select indicator on the column - its on the console where you actually change gears. Maybe someone with an original can post pics.
Jerry
Well, Did some internet sniffing and looked at the manual extra close and then took a look at my column again.
Looks like someone replaced the bearing housing and keylock housing with one from a column shift car....seems to me that the column itself is original since it has the (non working) "depress lever" section where the shifter handle would be on a column shift car....you wouldnt install that on purpose and not make it work.....so maybe someone busted the key housing or something and those sections were replaced.
I contemplated cutting off the indicator box sections and smoothing things out but then I realized that that would be a ton of work for little reward....
My guess is that it will be hard to find those two pieces quickly and cheaply.....so I am going to make lemonade out of lemons and repaint what I have etc and reassemble and use as-is until I can find a column that doesn't have the indicator box.....in the meantime I am going to try and make a lens or something that says "plymouth" or "barracuda" for that section.....no idea how yet but that is the plan...backlighted, thatshould be neat.
I was able to fashion a screw that works to replace the missing one holding the lock housing to the column...
After looking over everything again I am reasonably confident that the locking stuff isnt needed as far as slop in the column goes....we will see I guess...LOL
So for now, gonna try and pull the key cylinder out and then track down paint for it....clean it up and paint it and then reassemble and hope the electrical works...LOL
I figured I should paint the column whatever I paint the dash...which will be black....
I read somewhere that "suede black" is what they used on the column....I think I saw that at Home Depot in spray bombs! Think it will hold up?
So I will just have to buy the upper bearing, the snaprings, the retainer plate and the lower seal....local dealer claims he can get all that stuff , so stopping in tomorrow....