Is there a trick to getting the switch out of the column?

You need to pull the wheel an get to where you can push the release.

1. Disconnect the battery & remove the Steering Wheel.
2. Remove the 3 screws holding the Turn signal Switch assembly and the 1 screw holding the lever to the switch.
3. Remove the snap ring holding the bearing to the shaft.
4. Remove the 3 screws holding the upper housing to the middle housing.
5. Disconnect the wiring under the column.
6. Remove the lower column support and the cover over the wiring directly under the column. Try not to let the column hang down if you can. You may loosely reattach the column to dash support after you move the wiring out from under it if you like.
7. Wiggle the Turns Signal switch up and out of the way. You can now pull a little slack out of the wiring you disconnected and freed in steps 5&6.
8. Wiggle or gently pry the upper column housing off of the middle column housing and pull it off the shaft. It's OK to let it hang on the Turn Signal Switch wiring if you need to but be gentle.
9. Remove the other snap ring on the shaft.
10. pry up to remove the collar from the lock plate and then drive out the pin under the collar . Remove the lock plate.
11. Remove the two screws holding the column lock mechanism in place.
12. Under that plate you will see a small pin in a hole (early models had a bolt) Press the pin and pull out to remove the lock cylinder. Do not have keys in the lock cylinder.
13. Remove the 3 screws holding the ignition switch to the middle housing.
14. Wiggle and pull the switch wires up through the column and your done.

Installation is the reverse except I suggest you solder the large RED power wire instead of using the factory connector.

OOps! read too fast.