When my column went bad in my 87 bronco i just took plastic trim off around column and found the rod on top and used it to start truck. To unlock the steering wheel i gave it a good twist and it broke free. Thats the only way i know to do it.
Got the igintion cylinder replaced. Turns out it was a lot worse than i thought. No only did they break a part of my leatherman off in the cylinder and the chrome knob off, they broke something else off inbetween the part the key goes in and the housing jamming it, not to mention the steering wheel locked. So 2 1/2 hrs later i got it out and put the new one in.