I place a stack of shop manuals in the drivers seat under the steering wheel to help align the column. The splines are interrupted. If they aren't lined up just right it will refuse to start onto the second segment.
This spot is where wiggling and tapping with the smallest pecker can work better than brute force.
I'll try that too, not much room to tap it. manifold, brake lines, and linkage all in the way. Perfect alignment must be the key, I'll let you know if it works. Thanks