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In the process of restoring my 1970 Cutlass Supreme, 350 Rocket, AT, with tilt wheel. I realized that the key will not turn forward and the wheel is locked. It will turn back to the accessory position but not forward at all. In the engine compartment, the trans shifter on the firewall side is not connected to the rod going down to the trans so I intially thought it was just the position of the collar on the column that holds the shifter. Moved that collar a little in either direction and no change. I have disassembled the column down to pulling the turn signal switch off and tried changing the ignition cylinder. New cylinder went in fine but still won't turn forward. Then I thought it may be the ignition switch because this car has been sitting outside for 20+ years. I removed the switch from the column and just had the rod going to the switch hang free. Key still won't turn forward. I am trying to avoid tearing the column down further but I'm thinking I might have to unless someone has an idea of what may be going on.
The collar out of position will prevent the key from turning to the LOCK position, but will not prevent it from turning forward. Since you've eliminated the electric ignition switch as a cause, that pretty much leaves a broken rack mechanism or a bad lock cylinder. Try removing the lock cylinder and see if you can turn the mating gear inside the column with a flat blade screwdriver. If so, the lock cylinder is bad. If not, you probably have a broken rack mechanism, which requires column teardown.
As has been the case with most of the car from sitting for years, things have become rusted and seized. After removing the collar, I realized the pin/rod that rides on the rack gear that also serves as the locking pin for the wheel was seized in the aluminum collar and came out with the collar when I tried to remove it. Couldn't understand why I was having trouble pulling the collar off. That was why. Thankfully, it doesn't look like I damaged the gear. So I need to get that locking pin/rod free from the collar and get everything greased up and re-installed. You can see the head of that pin/rod in the picture above my thumb. It's seized in the collar.
