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.
Quote from: RichW on July 20, 2010, 12:47:28 AM
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.
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.
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.
Quote from: RichW on July 20, 2010, 10:53:31 PM
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.
You might want to do what John said and take it to a locksmith.
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.
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 .
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.
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.
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.