we are having trouble instaling a second hand steering column,the cable thet opperates the cruise control wont opperate properly and we cant turn the KEY to the off position to get the ignition key out,,,,,,,,,,,,,THE CRUISE CONTROL dont work for last 5 years,, can i leave this stupid cable off the steering column,,,,,we cant work this thing out ,,,2 weekends now,,,,,,,,,,,iff the,,cable is on ,,key wont turn back,,to remove from car as the mechanism that opperates the cable,,wont work with the cable fitted,,,,,,its got us beat

 

I could be wrong about 82 cars, but for the years i'm familiar with the cruise cable didn't enter the passenger compartment. The cruise cable goes from the cruise servo which works off vaccum, to the throttle. The cable i think your talking about is the cable that stops you from removing the key when the car is in drive. This cable goes from the shifter (on automatic cars, not sure if it's even used on manuals) to the column where it is connceted to a white plastic peice that is connected with very tiny screws to the column.

 

those really old ones where a little differant. the whole bowl cover turns. (it is almost like a modified colum shift)

you can leave the shift lock cable off but, you need to lock the bowl from turning. also if the lock it's self will not turn fully back even after messing with the shift lock then the actual lock cyl. maybe bad (stuck tumbler)