changing ignition switch tumbler

[RichW]

I took the switch to the locksmith today. He said he'll make 2 keys for it for around $25. I guess I was way off on the price. Thank you for the suggestion.

[RichW]

I don't know what a locksmith would charge. My guess would be around $100. Drilling out the lock might be another alternative. It certainly can't do any more harm. I'll try to take it to a locksmith tomorrow and see what he charges.

[JimCno]

If you already have a switch assembly and a new tumbler, as Elmo said, a locksmith will be cheaper by far than the $140 for a new assembly.

If you don't have a locksmith near and you have your heart set on buying a new assembly, you may want to try drilling a hole where the key is inserted. That is usually the easiest way to defeat a lock. 

[elmo]

i,ll go along with the others , take it to a lock smith, reading your post iit seems all you need to do is remove the tumbler , and you have a replacement tunbler and keys . after you have the switch out , surely its not going to cost any where near $140 to change them over . when restoring a car there are a lot of things we can do ourselves to help keep the cost,s down , but there are a lot of things we should leave alone, unless we have the expertise, or tools to help us. as an example , i am a qualified car painter , but having worked in a body shop for over 45 years i can do most of, if not all my panel repairs , and have the equipment to do it , i can also rebuild my own engine , as long as the fine engineering has been done , brakes drive train etc also present no problems .3 things i leave alone is  upholstery , trans and diferential. i leave them to the people that know them .

[RichW]

Thanks for your help. I wonder if I might be better off buying the switch on ebay for $140. He claims it's NOS and just needs the lock tumbler.

[JimCno]

You might want to do what John said and take it to a locksmith.

[TodFitch]

I tried pushing in that little hole near the tumbler but nothing moves. I also don't have the key for it either. I thought about taking off the back bakelite end to get at it but I don't know what kind of trouble to expect.

On mine the key has to be in and turned for the release to work. The switches I have disassembled were such that the back end did not give you access to the lock portion, only the electrical switch. Your year might be different but I doubt it.

[RichW]

I tried pushing in that little hole near the tumbler but nothing moves. I also don't have the key for it either. I thought about taking off the back bakelite end to get at it but I don't know what kind of trouble to expect.

[John Hendricks]

Agree with what Todd says.  On another vehicle I was restoring, I pushed the pin and took the tumblers out and the little spring went somewhere.  I wound up taking a little baggy of pieces to a locksmith I know and he fixed it.  A locksmith might be the place to start as he can also make u another key or 2.

[TodFitch]

I was wondering if anyone knows how to go about swapping out the ignition switch lock tumbler from the cable end on a 35 Plymouth. I finally found the correct ignition cable but of course it had no key. I have a spare tumbler with keys in which to replace it. Any help would be appreciated.

Not sure about the 35 but on the 33 there is a small pin hole near the dash end of the switch. If you have the key in the ignition and turned half-way on, there is a spring loaded locking piece that can be released by putting a small pin in the hole. You can't see that hole, at least on my car, unless you have the switch removed from the dash.

[RichW]

I was wondering if anyone knows how to go about swapping out the ignition switch lock tumbler from the cable end on a 35 Plymouth. I finally found the correct ignition cable but of course it had no key. I have a spare tumbler with keys in which to replace it. Any help would be appreciated.