Bypass Ignition switch

[stevel]

Hey guys I have an 75 truck that we use around the work yard only. Never goes off the property.
The ignition key and inside of the key cylinder is damaged beyond repair.
All I want to do is hook up a switch to start it with. Don't need lights of any kind or accessories. Just power to the distributor and be able to crank the starter.
Anyone know what wires I would need to use in the harness on the column to be able to start it?
Or do I need to re wire from scratch?

[Goldfinger]

Start under the dash find the ignition switch on the top of the column. cut the wires. your gonna take the thick red power wire and find the starter wire. Once you find the starter wire all the others will be mounted on a 2 way switch. now bridge the power wire over to a push button starter switch and connect the starter wire to one side and the power wire to the other. To start the engine flip the 2 way and press the push button till it cranks then to shut off flip the 2 way to the off position

[mongoose]

one red to pink for ing. the other red to the purple to crank

another red can go to the brown.. but i have the brown hooked up but it doesn't do anything?

[stevel]

I don't see any red wire on the harness to the switch. Does this Red wire come from the battery direct?

[Goldfinger]

It should be in the bunch of wires on the switch if not find the power wire with a multimeter

[clinebarger]

Key switches are cheap & easy to change.

[stevel]

Still no luck .I found the 12 volt wire. however cant seem to find a wire to use for the crank. The harness from the firewall wires are
Black
Black-Blue
Blue
Brown
Purple
Black-Yellow
Green
Black-White
This harness plugs into the switch harness ,however the wire colors change on the harness to the switch.
Thought it would be as simple as hooking the proper wires together.
Any other advise please?

[mopar346]

Originally Posted by clinebarger

Key switches are cheap & easy to change.

! agree 100%!! OR if the housing is screwed swap columns. BUT if you must rig it, just unbolt the ignition switch and let it hang and use a screwdriver to turn it on an off and start it. Please don't hack up the harness.

The truck is also easy to hot wire, run a wire to the positive side of the coil you can put it on an on/off switch if you desire and if I was gonna leave it long term I would wire in a ballast resistor like on a Chrysler. To start it run a positive wire to the small terminal on the strter solenoid, put it on a push button.

[stevel]

I will have to use the wires .The Ignition switch is trash and the housing for it is also not usable.
Hoping I can just hook together whatever wires would be shunted if the switch was used.

[mopar346]

The ignition switch is the part down on the column that the wires plug into, just unbolt and use a screwdriver, no need to screw up the harness.

The part your hand touches is the key and tumbler.


It only takes a second to cut the harnes and hours to put it back right or a day to replace it. Damage it is just not necessary, even to accomplish what you want.