My steering column' tilt mechanism is broke, turn signal/ dimmer switch is broke and key switch is on it's last leg. I had purchased a floor mounted dimmer switch as my headlights are now stuck on high, and that's a ticket waiting to happen around here. Then the turn signals gave out and I'm bald or I'd be pulling my hair out at this point. My 87 column is in perfect appearance and working order. My problem obviously is vats. How can I install a non vats unit into a vats equipped car?

 

You shuold just be able to install the key lock cylinder into the 87 column and run the wires down through the column like a normal vats column. The vats interrigator box is under the dash anyway.

 

The vats keyswitch is in bad shape. Is there a way just to do the swap and bypass/remove the vats.

 

anybody??????????

 

Measure the resistance between the key contacts and get a resistor close to it at Radio Shack. Add the resistor in the circuit by cutting the two small wires that go to the switch. This will eliminate the protection of course.
Good read here:

https://www.thirdgen.org/vats_passkey_system