easy way to replace ignition lock on '87 250?

[barryf]

i cant turn the ignition key on my 87 F250, non tilt steering column. All the manuals i've seen say i need to disassemble the column to get to the insides of the lock assembly. Looks like a real pain!

Has anyone found an easier way to replace the ignition lock cylinder when the key cannnot be turned to the "on" position? i have gottent the steering wheel off already.

[barryf]

to answer my own question, the easy way for me was to get a complete steering column at a junkyard that luckily also had the key and working ignition cylinder and swap it for the one in my truck.

the parts guy at the ford dealer was helpful, suggested i try drilling out the bad ignition cylinder, but that didn't work for me. taking out the column to replace the individual parts would have cost about $70 in parts and didn't sound all that simple.

my favorite u-pull-it junkyard charged $15 for the whole column and the job turned out to be removing a few bolts that weren't even rusted, removing a couple electrical connects, and then reversing it. new column isn't EXACTLY like old but the horn and turn signals work, i lost the cruise control tho.