1972 Imperial Tilt Column – Help!

Just my luck...
I get the new idler arm all installed - everything goes great - I pull the car out of the shop to close up and pull on the tilt arm lever to release the column upward and as the wheel is traveling upward, I hear a *snap* *ping* *clunk*!! I pull on the tilt arm lever and try to pull the wheel back down - and it ain't happenin'. The column will not tilt now and putting the gear selector into gear is possible, but met with some resistance.

Does anyone have any experience with...

1972 Imperial Tilt Column - Help!