there is a rod on my steering column that causes my truck to turn off. I start my truck and it turns on right away but as soon as I let go of the switch (ignition cylinder), the truck turns off. When I jiggle the rod it starts working fine.

http://www.2carpros.com/forum/1988-ford-f150--ignition-switch-replacement-vt195218.html
where the vice grips are grabbing. (i know its not a 82 but thats the closest picture i could find online)

 

The switch & the cylinder both have 5 corresponding positions, but the switch has slotted holes where it mounts to the column for adjustment. The free-play needs to be set midway, before the two nuts holding the switch, are tightened down.

It's also possible the switch or cylinder are dry & sticking - I removed my switch and cleaned it with compressed air & contact cleaner, then greased it up with dielectric grease a couple of months ago - it smoothed up the action a lot. The key cylinder itself is meant to be assembled into the column with some regular grease.

I dropped the steering column down out of the dash to do all this, but if you're only adjusting the free-play on the switch, you might not need to go to that trouble.

 

Sounds like this might the classic broken piece #14 in the diagram above. You have one of these if you have a tilt column. It's made out of pot metal, and the Ford dealer has a bucket load, they break all the time.

 

well i took it to the mechanic and it was the switch (the wires) they were loose and old. I got a new switch and now it starts right up and no more problems and my horn works too lol