Upon further review, the firewall mount looks like it was modified. Are those 2 bolts supposed to be there?
I think the 74's would have had the transmission / ignition switch interlock, IE you cannot put the gear in park unless the switch is locked. Maybe something there bent / broke/ etc?
I would unhook the shift linkage under the hood temporarily to keep that from being a problem
I don't remember on the late columns, I think if you loosen the two pictured bolts the column will rotate. The question, though is "how it got that way?"
Looks to me like the column crush sleeve is bulged possible from some type of impact and that's why the two studs under the dash don't line up with the column.
Column is probably out of a wrecked car
I can try to start it in ALL the gears, not just PARK or NEUTRAL but it won't start. It started before, but I just had to find the right spot in the gears that allowed it to start. What would that suggest is the issue now?
The engine turns over with the starter (cranks) IN ANY GEAR but will not fire.
Doing that now but if it started before I took the column out didn't think it would be an issue now.
The neutral safety switch is on the TRANSMISSION. But when you moved the column around, you probably changed the relationship of the shifter linkage on the column / between / and to the transmission.
so re-adjust it
You have a service manual?