Don't cut and splice you'll make a mess and there's no need for it.
I believe the column connectors are Pak Con I. The female terminals are on the cab side and the male terminals are on the switch pigtail. Don't monkey with the cab side.
Download the wiring diagrams for 1974 & 1978.
Grab some paper and a pencil. Make yourself a table of the wire colors, position letters, and actual function for the 1978 turnsignal switch. Make another table with the same info for the 1974.
The male Pak Con I terminals have a single retention tang. There should be a small slot for the removal tool. I usually use a #000 flat precision screwdriver or one of the removal bars in my SIR Tools 9025 fold up terminal extraction tool. The correct removal tool is the same one used on Metripack 150 terminals... Delphi 12094430.
Youtube Video Pak Con I terminal extraction and installation