Ignition switch replacement and dissection ("THE HORROR!!!")

[66Submarine]

The only problem my junkyard '65 has given me has been an intermittent ignition switch problem recently; a screwdriver or slight hill worked fine to get back on the road when it acted up, but for all of $12 I thought I'd finally just replace the 49 year old switch and be done with it.

Anyway, I took the old one apart to see what it looked like; pure electrical horror resided within! Lots of general crap in there and the contact areas were all a pitted mess. No wonder it acted up sometimes!

Thought some of you might enjoy the pictures.

[hotrod66]

just sandblast it i will work for another week
or put it up on ebay as a switch with patina.
sadly mine probably looks the same.

[66Submarine]

"GENUINE RAT ROD IGNITION SWITCH! VINTAGE! RARE!"

[old cool]

Hey Sub, before I start a new thread, I thought I'd pop you a question since you've helped me in the past.
My 66 gmc seems to be having an ignition switch problem though I get the idea from other threads I may have a ground, alternator, or voltage regulator problem.
Let me start with the shortest explanation I can:
1. truck cranks and starts fine
2. all electrical parts working last I checked
3. turned the key to "on" position and the stock gas gauge did not immediately move. I tapped the ignition switch with finger nail a gauge worked fine. This happened more than once.
4.Last night I took truck out for spin. Cold weather here in Mich so I turned on heat and fan to high, head lights on, using turn signals, and obviously brake lights. The turn signals seemed extra fast and the lights were flickering at idle when I pulled in garage. Heat switch was still on high.

SO, do you think my switch is getting problematic or is the problem likely to be elsewhere in wiring. I know this is a broad question and problem doesn't have a quick answer but I thought Id ask since you changed your switch.

I feel like every couple hundred miles I'm asking a new question. I'm a little self conscious about it but I don't know where else to turn. It seems fewer and fewer old school mechanics out there; especially with stock set ups. Anyway, I have always appreciated your guidance.

[66Submarine]

Kind of hard for me to say...definitely sounds like you have something going on there.

Did just the gauge not work when you turned the key on? Did anything else related to the switch work?

The headlights and brake lights don't have anything to do with the ignition switch, so if they were flickering that wouldn't be related to it.

My issue was just that sometimes the switch wouldn't engage the starter. My father had an issue where the switch would sometimes not flow enough current to let the truck start and the gauges (at least the aftermarket tach) wouldn't work when it happened. Given that you seem to say your truck always starts and runs normally, I'd think that the ignition switch probably isn't the issue. I wouldn't really call myself an electrical wizard, though.

Happy to help when I can!

[old cool]

Hi Sub. Never thought to check other electrial parts with ignition in "on" position. However, the gas gauge delay is less than 5 seconds so I may never know if there is a full power loss. Last night I cleaned up some grounds and checked connections. (Read a lot about GROUND GREMLINS).
The first connection cleaned and tightened was the hot wire on gas tank. The gauge functiouned well from that point. However, that was turning key off and on so it may still be a contact isuue in the switch.
didn't recheck turn signal function but read that it could ground, bulb, or flasher. My current flasher is aTrinidon made in Asia.
FYI, ive also read it is a good idea to run a ground wire from bed to frame. It came up enough that im going to do it. Nothing to loose.
THANKS for your input.