ignition switch - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

joerocks · 03-28-2009, 01:49 AM

i had to change one of these out in my 70 a couple of yrs ago, but i forgot if i needed the key,(i thought i needed it to remove it) can someone look and tell me if there is any way to change it out without the key. i am in iraq and coming home a couple of weeks and i left my key with my dad in case he had to go and get it, anyway now he can't find it. so is there any way i can just unplug the switch and leave it hanging under the dash i guess??? until i find my spare key and remove the old one? thanks-joe

**El Jay** · 03-28-2009, 01:53 AM

I hate to keep volunteering the guy, but Lockdoc (Leon) is your go to guy for this.

spinning wheels · 03-28-2009, 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joerocks

i had to change one of these out in my 70 a couple of yrs ago, but i forgot if i needed the key,(i thought i needed it to remove it) can someone look and tell me if there is any way to change it out without the key. i am in iraq and coming home a couple of weeks and i left my key with my dad in case he had to go and get it, anyway now he can't find it. so is there any way i can just unplug the switch and leave it hanging under the dash i guess??? until i find my spare key and remove the old one? thanks-joe

That's easy. Use the spare key

Just kidding. I had to drill out the old ignition key, took a while but finally got it out. I replaced all the locks on the truck, and had to buy the chrome ring around the ignition. The PO's wife took the original keys, then got locked up for making meth....So the keys were lost

GMC AMI · 03-28-2009, 05:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joerocks

i had to change one of these out in my 70 a couple of yrs ago, but i forgot if i needed the key,(i thought i needed it to remove it) can someone look and tell me if there is any way to change it out without the key. i am in iraq and coming home a couple of weeks and i left my key with my dad in case he had to go and get it, anyway now he can't find it. so is there any way i can just unplug the switch and leave it hanging under the dash i guess??? until i find my spare key and remove the old one? thanks-joe

Spare switch and key will do it. I have done this before, I just hid the spare switch behind the dash. No one except you would even know unless they saw you start up the truck. That's why these trucks are easy to steal, just unplug the orig. switch and plug in your own switch and key.

72freak · 03-28-2009, 06:45 AM

Drill, hammer, punch and recip saw are your only hope for getting it out. Ive done it about 10 times with no "extra" damage.

You can also pull out te door lock and have a key made from it if it matches.

spinning wheels · 03-28-2009, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GMC AMI

Spare switch and key will do it. I have done this before, I just hid the spare switch behind the dash. No one except you would even know unless they saw you start up the truck. That's why these trucks are easy to steal, just unplug the orig. switch and plug in your own switch and key.

After reading this post, I think I need to install a hidden kill switch or chain a pit bull in the cab.

These trucks ARE easy to steal.

LONGHAIR · 03-28-2009, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spinning wheels

After reading this post, I think I need to install a hidden kill switch or chain a pit bull in the cab.

These trucks ARE easy to steal.

Yeah, that is why there are usually several posts a year about adding auxillary switches and other security devices.

**LockDoc** · 03-28-2009, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by El Jay

I hate to keep volunteering the guy, but Lockdoc (Leon) is your go to guy for this.

No problem El Jay...

Looks like he already has some great advice. As already mentioned you can unplug the wiring harness from the back of the switch and just plug another switch into it as a temp. solution. Unplugging it isn't the easiest thing to do while working under the dash but it is doable. If you can't find your spare key you can take the door lock out and and have a key made from the code number stamped into it. If the locks are original or were all replaced at the same time the key should fit the ignition cylinder.

LockDoc

**El Jay** · 03-28-2009, 09:21 PM

Thanks, Leon.

I'm fortunate, I don't have a particular "area of expertise" so folks don't come looking for me. Or would that be stalking me?

Enjoy what's left of your weekend.

joerocks · 03-30-2009, 12:14 AM

thanks for the responses, that is what i was thinking too about just leaving it behind the dash until i can find my spare key, it is in some boxes in my garage in ky and the truck is in kansas. i just am not sure when i will get to take leave and find the key yet, i changed the one on my 70 a few yrs ago when the switch went bad and i remembered i needed the key to change the housing but i couldn't remember about just unplugging the switch, anyway about the thievers do you think while i am in there a toggle switch hidden on the main power wire would work? all my trucks have the latest in POS camo so maybe a thief would just think it didn't start and try another one. and thanks again-joe

cwgreen1971 · 03-30-2009, 02:49 AM

I can't get mine out with the key, tried everything...

03-28-2009, 01:49 AM	#1
joerocks Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: gilbertsville,KY Posts: 111	ignition switch i had to change one of these out in my 70 a couple of yrs ago, but i forgot if i needed the key,(i thought i needed it to remove it) can someone look and tell me if there is any way to change it out without the key. i am in iraq and coming home a couple of weeks and i left my key with my dad in case he had to go and get it, anyway now he can't find it. so is there any way i can just unplug the switch and leave it hanging under the dash i guess??? until i find my spare key and remove the old one? thanks-joe __________________ 1992 Jeep Cherokee 4.0 AUTO 1972 C10 350/350 1971 C1500 350/350 1970 C20 396/400

03-28-2009, 01:53 AM	#2
El Jay Gone to greener pastures Join Date: May 2007 Location: Gateway to the Delta Posts: 7,354	Re: ignition switch I hate to keep volunteering the guy, but Lockdoc (Leon) is your go to guy for this. __________________ '69 Chevy 1/2 T LWB Stepper: Daily Beater '72 GMC 3/4 T Fleet: Another Daily Beater '72 Plymouth Gran Coupe: ? "Ah women. They make the highs higher and the lows more frequent." Friedrich Nietzsche "Never kick a fresh turd on a hot day." Harry S. Truman GUN CONTROL: Never having to say, "I missed you." Always fire two warning shots into your attacker's chest area before putting a bullet between his eyes. Paraphrased from Louis Awerbuck

03-28-2009, 06:45 AM	#5
72freak Rottenwood Garage Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Marietta, Georgia Posts: 4,321	Re: ignition switch Drill, hammer, punch and recip saw are your only hope for getting it out. Ive done it about 10 times with no "extra" damage. You can also pull out te door lock and have a key made from it if it matches. __________________ 2004 Chevrolet Suburban C1500 2001 Chevrolet 2500HD Crew 6.0 1999 Harley Davidson Electra Glide 1972 Chevrolet C-20 Custom Camper "Dump Truck" 1972 Chevrolet C-20 Suburban "Big Green" 1969 Chevrolet C-50 Wedge Hauler "Leonidis" 1966 C-10 2x4 short fleet 327 4 speed "Race Truck" 1952 Plymouth Cranbrook "Rican" (my grandfathers) 1931 Ford Model A Coupe "Black Beauty" 1930 Ford Model A truck "Club Cab" 4x4 Rottenwood Garage and Speed Shop.....where everything must be racy! *It's not just a hobby..It's a LIFESTYLE!!!* Thanks for nothing Barrett-Jackson You cant fix stupid or teach accountability! Time wasters, looky Lous and tire kickers are everywhere! Last edited by 72freak; 03-28-2009 at 06:47 AM.

03-28-2009, 09:21 PM	#9
El Jay Gone to greener pastures Join Date: May 2007 Location: Gateway to the Delta Posts: 7,354	Re: ignition switch Thanks, Leon. I'm fortunate, I don't have a particular "area of expertise" so folks don't come looking for me. Or would that be stalking me? Enjoy what's left of your weekend. __________________ '69 Chevy 1/2 T LWB Stepper: Daily Beater '72 GMC 3/4 T Fleet: Another Daily Beater '72 Plymouth Gran Coupe: ? "Ah women. They make the highs higher and the lows more frequent." Friedrich Nietzsche "Never kick a fresh turd on a hot day." Harry S. Truman GUN CONTROL: Never having to say, "I missed you." Always fire two warning shots into your attacker's chest area before putting a bullet between his eyes. Paraphrased from Louis Awerbuck

03-30-2009, 12:14 AM	#10
joerocks Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: gilbertsville,KY Posts: 111	Re: ignition switch thanks for the responses, that is what i was thinking too about just leaving it behind the dash until i can find my spare key, it is in some boxes in my garage in ky and the truck is in kansas. i just am not sure when i will get to take leave and find the key yet, i changed the one on my 70 a few yrs ago when the switch went bad and i remembered i needed the key to change the housing but i couldn't remember about just unplugging the switch, anyway about the thievers do you think while i am in there a toggle switch hidden on the main power wire would work? all my trucks have the latest in POS camo so maybe a thief would just think it didn't start and try another one. and thanks again-joe __________________ 1992 Jeep Cherokee 4.0 AUTO 1972 C10 350/350 1971 C1500 350/350 1970 C20 396/400

03-30-2009, 02:49 AM	#11
cwgreen1971 cwgreen1971 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Battle Creek MI Posts: 185	Re: ignition switch I can't get mine out with the key, tried everything...



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