[Deadhead]

Kevin!

I have had '63-66 apart. You may have a broken spring or two. I think your style has the tension springs that go in the face of the column and act as a cam with stops/indents on them to hold the lever in position. They are often broken. Rest. Specialities may have these. They have a bunch of springs. I don't remember seeing them in my recent go-round through their catalog, but check it out. The springs are right on top & 2 make a broken circle. You should be able to see if they are broken or not without tearing too far in to it. If they have been broken a long time, they could now be down in the column, gone altogether or just pieces left.

I don't think you will have to take the whole thing apart if you do not want to. Take the horn assembly and wheel off should get it. As long as you do not have a tilt column, it is not bad at all. Might actually be easier to work on in the car as long as you are not Sasquatch like. I have torn them apart, repaired, painted and put back together in a few hours. Removing the column from the car obviously only takes a little longer. 4 more bolts.

As for the tail light issue - could be that if the whole mess is flopping around that your wire may have worn or come loose inside the column. Could then be going to ground and the short could be causing the lights to come on or not work?