Some GM tilt columns seem to have this inherent problem of getting sloppy loose. I must have repaired dozens of them when I worked in a body shop years ago... Anyway, if you pull the steering wheel off, remove the "daisy wheel", and remove the turnsignal switch assembly, you will see the retainer piece that holds it all together. There will be 3 very long bolts that have worked loose and allowed the retainer and all the parts its supposed to hold to become loose. Unfortunately, you can only tighten 2 of the 3 bolts (you can't get a wrench on the 3rd one) and they will eventually work loose again and again. Loctite may help, but it sounds like yours may have been in this condition for quite a while and has worn some important parts beyond help. My advice would be to change the column. This is not a difficult job. There are either 3 or 4 bolts at the floor, two under the dashboard, the one holding the u-joint to the end of the shaft, and a couple of electrical plugs. No, it does not have to be a tilt. Get one out of the same type truck and it will bolt up / hook up the same way whether it is tilt or not. It should take you about an hour to switch them if you take your time.