Ignition mechanism failure & fix

[68 TT]

Went out to start the 78 K20 yesterday to drive it to work. Turned the key, got the alt light but it didn't turn over then on the next try the mechanism broke. No ratcheting or resistance from full motion of the key.

Pulled the column down to see if it was the rod or switch that failed. Nope.

Pulled the steering wheel with the puller, the lock plate clip with my home made scrap metal tool & turn signal switch and found the rack gear that connects the ignition lock gear to the ignition switch actuation rod had broken in half. Crud.

Pulled out the #3 phillips screws under the signal switch and got down to the lock pins. Never yanked those out before.

I have a spare column that came with the 4x4 parts I picked up for the conversion of the 67 C10 so I cannibalized it for the part I needed to fix the 78.

Turns out a typical electrical receptacle retaining screw is the right thread count for the lock pins. Pulled them out with my old fabricated slide hammer made from a pair of vice grips, a broken hammer and a bolt with the threaded area cut and threaded to match the vice grips.

I will work on getting the good part back into the K20 tonight. That will be the fun part.

More pics of the torn apart column later.