push button start???

[Mr.Supersonic]

Ok I have a 1970 c20. I saw my friend's truck today and he has this AWESOME push button start on it. you have to put the key in and turn it to accessory, then push this small little button to start the truck. is there anyone out there that has done a similar thing? how would I do this???? Thanks!

[davepl]

All you need is a heavy duty pushbutton that sends power to the crank lug on the starter. Turn the key to ON, hit your magic button, and it'd start and run.

The button must be able to handle the amps of the solenoid.

[Mr.Supersonic]

ok that sounds simple enough. where would I find a button like this?

[davepl]

Here's a bunch. One of them is 60A, that should do it.

http://bfy.tw/7Ppw

[In The Ten Ring]

Vehicles used to have push button starters. Some were located under clutch pedals and my dad told me about a car he had where it was under the gas pedal and one you could hit with your knee.

He said his '51 Chevy sedan, let me see, "pull out choke, turn key, hit starter button."

I think a starter button is pretty neat as long as no computer is involved like on modern cars. I guess if the ignition was out you could put in a starter button to go around that problem.

Where do you plan to put your starter button? I think on the left side of the instrument panel would be pretty neat.

[CG]

I put push button start on my Unibody. Wiired a push button in where my lighter is. It still says lighter on the chrome ring and has the lighter outside part, now you push it in to start the truck.

[slikside]

^^^^^very cool^^^^^^

Kind of a "what-the-heck" anti-theft too!

[slikside]

My brother in law had an early to mid 50's chevy apache truck that had a large foot/pushbutton/pedal that came through the floorboard just to the right of the gas pedal. Placement allowed the toe to push the start pedal, with the heal on the gas pedal so you could gas it a little if you had to without repositioning your foot.

I always thought that whole set up was pretty neat. Very old school, indeed!

Pretty sure it was factory...others may know for certain.

[TwoFiftyShifter]

It's a starter pedal. That's what they had back then. 50s and older. To the right of the gas pedal. Used to freak some people out when they rode in our '57 3100.

[In The Ten Ring]

Good idea on the "lighter push to start." I think that would foil at least some thieves. Might keep whoever you loaned it to from starting it as well!

[Grumpy old man]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-12V-RED-...NUaMr9&vxp=mtr

[chewychevy67]

This looks nice. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=523354

[Mr.Supersonic]

I wanted the push button to be a anti theift thing. I take this truck to high school and I don't want people messing with my truck.

the friend I was inspired by told me how he did it, and will help me wire one into my truck!

but thank you guys for all the info! I think I'll wire it to a button right under the dash, out of sight.

[Grumpy old man]

Originally Posted by Mr.Supersonic

I wanted the push button to be a anti theift thing. I take this truck to high school and I don't want people messing with my truck.

the friend I was inspired by told me how he did it, and will help me wire one into my truck!

but thank you guys for all the info! I think I'll wire it to a button right under the dash, out of sight.

They make a pressure switch you run the wires up thru the A pillar and mount the switch in the sun visor . You have to squeeze the switch for the truck to start .all hidden

[midniteblues]

I had a idea too do something out of the box as kind of a gag.

Install a makeshift old shool crank handle out front with a starter button hidden somewhere near it.
The crank handle would have a gear and a audiable click while you Count 5 turns out loudly then hit the button.

You could sure make somebody scratch there head with a Wind up Crank starter

[In The Ten Ring]

Very funny! The crank start gag. LOL

[leftybass209]

The way stated, is one way of doing it. Much like our headlight switch, all current runs through the switch, so the wiring needs to be sufficient. The other way is to use a relay. Relays use a small current to energize an electromagnetic switch, to control a high current device. That enables you to use a smaller, modern style push start button, if that's what you're looking for.

Best of luck!

[dflarsen77]

My truck had a push button starter when I got it, guy made it sound like they did it because it was cool. After rooting around in the rats nest of wiring, I discovered that one of the POs did it because the neutral safety switch had failed and he didn't realize what the problem was. Installing the push button bypassed the safety switch.

For ghetto anti theft, they had rigged a toggle switch in line with the distributor wire in the cab.

[Mr.Supersonic]

I really think the push button starts are cool, but I need it as a anti theft setup, where you turn the key to ON, then push a button to start the car. people at my high school like messing with peoples cars, that is why I want this.

could I just cut the start wire between the key and the starter and wire in a button?

[Coley]

I kind of get a kick out of the push button starts.
This is a big thing now on new cars....often quite a 'modern tech uniqueness' for the owners.
I remember having a 54' 1/2 ton with the factory hydramatic transmission....that also had a push button starter.
Simply turn on the key, hit the starter button and away you go....although for some reason it was not that unique at the time and more likely to bring a....'huh?...thats weird' response from passengers....lol.
Funny how what comes around goes around.
All Good
Coley

[alsriv2]

We had a '38 International that had the Push button on the floor/firewall so your tow could push the button and your heal could pump the throttle.
Also had a '60 Buick LeSabre where the button was under the throttle, push the fuel peddle to the floor, that gave the engine a squirt of gas, and it would start right away.
Back in the early '90's I had a '67 GMC 3/4 ton truck where someone had put a high amp toggle switch with the red aviation safety cover over the top in place of the choke hole in the dash panel. Had to put key in accessory mode, lift the cover, toggle the spring loaded switch, truck starts and spring loaded switch goes to off position. Close red cover and drive. Very cool way to start truck. Pretty good anti-steal device for dumb thieves.