What's the trick to removing the steering column (in my case, in a '69)?
The only piece I cannot get free is the splined coupler area in the engine bay ... yanking on it does nothing, and to make matters worse, now I cannot get the square flanged bolt seated into the notch in the splined area of the shaft.

Take the four bolts out at the plates with the rubber between them. Don't separate the splined area. once you get it out you should be able to monkey the spline back to the spot where you can re-install the set screw.

Take the bolt all the way out?

It seems easier to me to seperate at the rag joint and pull it all up through the floor.

It seems easier to me to seperate at the rag joint and pull it all up through the floor.
That's the way I just did a swap on my '72. :thumbsup:

Take the bolt all the way out?

It seems easier to me to seperate at the rag joint and pull it all up through the floor.
I did take the bolt all the way out, and was unable to pull the splines free. Now, I can't get it all the way in. The square "shank" underneath the head of the bolt will not seat into the square hole for it.
I never thought of taking it apart at the rag joint, because my new/used (floorshift) steering column ends at the splined shaft end ...

The groove for the bolt has to be lined up perfectly to get the bolt back in.

Just as Dean said. You must have moved the shaft a small amount, thus the bolt won't go back in. If I remember correctly, there is a slight grove in the shaft that it rides in.