1987 Jeep Cherokee Pioneer lock cylinder

[Nighthawkinlight]

So I've been searching all over the internet and have yet to find a decent answer to my question. I have a 1987 Jeep Cherokee Pioneer that I recently got running. On trying to start it this morning the tumbler siezed up and i am convinced that it is shot. After messing with it for several hours i tore apart the steering collum and tried to get the tumbler out to no avail.
The Jeep is truly never going to be my every day vehicle and all I want to do is get it running again no matter waht it looks like. If i absalutely need to buy a new tumbler i will, however speed is the priority. I would like to just hotwire it. I have read elswere on this forum on how the steering wheel needs to be removed and a long process of removing parts requring a special compression wrench all to get at a cylinder that needs to be turned. This was all with the idea in mind that the jeep should look good when the hotwiring is finished. I don't care at all about it being clean cut, the ignition could be a switch held on by duct tape for all i care.
Bottom line, i want to get this thing started without spending tons of cash, and without tearing apart the entire wheel assembly.

-thanks for any help

[Stick89]

First....the cylinder unlocks the steering column....once you get the column unlocked THEN you can put a elcheapo switch any where....Also you will have to work around the ignition switch....Located on top of the steering column.....the cylinder and the swtich work together...both can be bypassed but you are gonna have to figure out some wiring as to what is hot and what is switched...This may include the NSS also .......

[Nighthawkinlight]

Alright thanks for the help, i got it running today. I think the problem was mostly the key, it's pretty old and most likely jammed a pin. The key turned and started as soon as i took the wheel off and loosened the bolt that holds the tumbler in.
Thanks for the reply