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 Ignition switch removal- 1955 Dodge carJump to page : 1 Now viewing page 1 [50 messages per page] | View previous thread :: View next thread |
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Charlie8575 |
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| 56D500boy |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 9900     Location: Lower Mainland BC | Charlie8575 - 2021-05-14 7:11 AM B. Tell me how to do it? When I bought my 56 Dodge the owner had a box of keys but none of them were for my car so the very first thing that I did was remove the ignition switch from the chrome surround (that holds amongst other things, the radio and lighter, etc). The switch is held into the surround with a Phillips head set screw that is accessed through a dime-sized hole in the lower dash, directly below the switch. *BUT* before you do that, you need to take a photo of the existing wiring arrangement on the back of the switch. With that photo in hand, you will need to remove the nuts that hold the wires to the studs on the back of the switch and remove the wires. Then you can remove the switch by removing the set screw and pushing the switch towards the front of the car. With the switch in hand, off you go to the lock smith. The ignition key and the door key are the same. The trunk key is different. *OR* if you are really clever, you can start by removing the set screw and pushing the switch out with ALL THE WIRES STILL ATTACHED. And then separate the actual key portion from the electrical portion. I wasn't smart enough to do that.  The back of the surround showing where the ignition switch and the key light live (right end in the photo/left end of the surround) My 56 Dodge 12V wiring example (could be different than a 55 Dodge 6V): (56DodgeIgnitionSwitchSetScrewAccessHoleAndPhillipsSetScrew.jpg) (MoparIgnitionSwitch_1.jpg) (55-56MoparIgnitionSwitch.jpg) Attachments ----------------  56DodgeIgnitionSwitchSetScrewAccessHoleAndPhillipsSetScrew.jpg (66KB - 144 downloads) MoparIgnitionSwitch_1.jpg (143KB - 135 downloads) 55-56MoparIgnitionSwitch.jpg (15KB - 132 downloads) | ||
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| Charlie8575 |
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| 56D500boy |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 9900 Location: Lower Mainland BC | Charlie8575 - 2021-05-15 5:30 AM Second question...how does that trim plate come off? It will eventually have to be removed to get the dash apart so it can be repainted. From the lack of screws on the front, and what all appear to be blind holes where screws might go, I'm presuming that gentle persuasion with a large screwdriver or very small crowbar would be best? Stand away from the prying tools!!! The surround is held to the metal dash by screws and maybe (I forget) cup washers applied from the back. My car was a radio delete car so I had to find a surround with the radio cutout and then swap them. No big deal (if you aren't 6'2" 250 lbs (I'm smaller)  ) In the photos, you can see 3 (or 4) threaded bosses on the back of the surround. They are market 10-24 as in 10-24 machine screws.  Edited by 56D500boy 2021-05-15 9:08 AM | ||
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| 56D500boy |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 9900 Location: Lower Mainland BC | 56D500boy - 2021-05-14 8:35 AM *OR* if you are really clever, you can start by removing the set screw and pushing the switch out with ALL THE WIRES STILL ATTACHED. And then separate the actual key portion from the electrical portion. I wasn't smart enough to do that. I consulted our resident locksmith (Ian S.) and he told me that, yes, you can separate the key portion from the electrical portion. Yay!! HOWEVER, you need to have the key in the keyed portion to do so.  Oh well, at least you know how to remove the entire assembly now. Good luck. | ||
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| Charlie8575 |
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Regular Posts: 75 | |||
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| 56D500boy |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 9900 Location: Lower Mainland BC | Charlie8575 - 2021-05-15 10:53 PM Okay...I managed to get the set-screw and the little plastic ring at the front out. Now I can't get the gall-danged lock and switch out. Boo! The wires are either really short, or really bunched in, and I can't drop it down under the dash, and I'm afraid to give it a good yank, because stuff could break, and then I can't start the car until I get a new wiring harness. With that little ring out, I'll try pushing it through the hole, but it honestly looks like it's a bit too big to fit. Sorry Charlie, but you DID NOT have to remove the "plastic ring" to remove the switch. If you had to do that, I would have told you. That is just for the light to illuminate where the key goes when you get in the car at night and put the PARK lights on. It stays in place. No need to remove it. What I did say was: 56D500boy - 2021-05-14 8:35 AM The switch is held into the surround with a Phillips head set screw that is accessed through a dime-sized hole in the lower dash, directly below the switch. *BUT* before you do that, you need to take a photo of the existing wiring arrangement on the back of the switch. With that photo in hand, you will need to remove the nuts that hold the wires to the studs on the back of the switch and remove the wires. Then you can remove the switch by removing the set screw and pushing the switch towards the front of the car. Don't yank on the wires, remove them from the switch now. The wiper switch knob is the same as the heater and defroster switch knobs. All three are held to their shafts by an allen-head set screw. Edited by 56D500boy 2021-05-16 2:36 AM | ||
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| Charlie8575 |
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Regular Posts: 75 | |||
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