1997 steering column and transmission shifting

someone drove this thing into the ground and if you plan on keeping it you'll be driving it back out . Check the tranny linkage for play on both ends and any thing else attached to the tranny it may have been cobbed back together make sure fluid level is correct , , the column has an internal problem that may be difficult to get to I think but you can always leave the key in it if you have to , home depot rents a flat bed at a reasonable price if you have to

Well..i know im to late to answer .but my guess is that if ur key isnt coming out..u need a new ignitition switch..for starters..in which by now a year later now. Uve either figured this out or have gave up on the truck..sad but true most likely. Also like the other person said here..id check the linkage its an old truck ..but chevy does rock..its a 1500 most likely uv the 305. So its not a real good hauler..but ive done ecactly what uve done np with a trailer of course.in which u didnt mention..cause wow if ur carrying over close to 3tonnes in the box? Ur crazy..ull be doing wheeles.lol..been ther with a 87 chev..linkage might be rubbing or binding..but my real question if i were u. would b why is it coming out of gear ..well again ..did u know that alot transmissions use air tube of sorts to build up pressure to help in changing gears..so id check that aswell. Its right near the bottom of the tranny its a round looking cylinder with a rubber on it..follow it up and see if its unplugged.. And or damaged. That hose alone will mess up ur shifting..next go back to that cylinder..im sorry im not sure what its called..lol but ive had to replace a few..i think its a type of diaphram..so if it gets plugged or if the diaphram is worn out.then no pressure to make tranny change gears..but really i think ur tranny is screwed..there fairly cheap and easy to replace ..

Ohhh geez im sorry..uve a dodge..but most 9f what i said still will apply..

And the dodge 1500 in my opinion isnt a bad worker at all..for that yr i believe it came with the 318..not a bad motor..and the tranny if its treated right will handle any loads..i know cause ive had the 97..the 2003..and ive still my. 2008..4.7 in those 2..in which thats a small engine..and ive had some really good and heavy loads with those trucks..but a word of advice dont buy the 2008 dodge 4x4 1500s 2500s gassers..not sure on the diesels for that yr and arounds there..there bad for tipm modules( where the fuses go) and the 4x4 actuator..nototious in fact..cost me canadian over $1400 to buy and have a machanic do the work..it was my first dodge 4x4..im the type of guy who does all the work himself.but i was not certain to the work..but as ive found out i could of saved at least $800..cause its simple job to do the 4x4 actuator and even the tipm modual..but u know machinic shops they wont tell u this if u dont know. Its litterally a 10min job to take out 4x4 modual and put it back in..for that charged me $400 for the part and $300 for labour..