On my 79 today, I went to start it, and the ignition/key locked forward and was just grinding away at my starter. It will not turn back off. I had been working on it, so I just soaked the carb with cleaner until it died. But the key is locked forward. I messed with it for a while... it finally went back, seemed fine, I was looking all under the dash and listening... Then it locked again, and never could get it to turn back. Key wont come out.. Cant do anything. Whats the deal? and how do I fix it?

 

well.. I think I broke it. I forced it back, while not really trying to … It just kinda went.. Now its real rough and tough to turn.. but, it still turns on and off, and starts and turns off. Steering lock works. Before I couldn't turn it off. But now the key is stuck in it. what does it all mean

 

Sounds like you bent the rod that lock the wheel now it can not allow the key to fully return home. You wont know for sure till you get it a parts. The aluminum house that holds the steel pin could be cracked.

This normally happens when the key is turned off before the car comes to complete stop with the wheel turned even slightly. A percentage of the weight of the car is binding the wheel. Next time try to push the car is the opposite direction and they normally free up. It was a very common issue back in the day and I fixed a lot of these after they were damages.

 

It was parked in my garage when it did it. I had just recently took it out for a drive. Got in back in the garage, had it parked. Did some other stuff. When to start it again, and it stuck forward. had never happened previous. I started it and turned the wheel back and forth and whatnot, never could get it to release.. Then... the force... and I kinda had that oh crap feeling.. Now its just hard to turn, and key wont come out but still works somewhat. What exactly to I need to do to get it apart? its all aluminum Nothing looks to come apart other than taking the steering wheel off I was hoping maybe it was just the lock mechanism I could just replace. Sounds like its gonna suck.

 

If you have the key back to the off position and the key won't come out, then the lock tumbler assembly is shot and needs to be replaced. What you described is exactly what I once went through on an old 79 Vette of mine. There's plenty of helpful how to videos on youtube. It starts with removing the steering wheel, then the turn signal assembly so that you can access the lock cylinder release.