Can anyone point me in the right direction for instructions on how to replace the ignition key cylinder in the steering wheel of a 69 Camaro? It looks like the guy I bought the car from lost the key or something and messed it up pretty good. Thanks for your help.

Matt

Do a search. I saw a post a couple weeks ago with some pictures.

Thanks. Just found the post where it talks about it. I will give it a try.

OK I go tthe old cylinder out and the new one in. Now when I turn the key it turns freely and does not rebound from the start to run position. What am I missing or what it wrong with it. I am tempted to just buy a new colum but I have not given up yet.

Please help!!!

OK I go tthe old cylinder out and the new one in. Now when I turn the key it turns freely and does not rebound from the start to run position. What am I missing or what it wrong with it. I am tempted to just buy a new colum but I have not given up yet.

Please help!!!It sounds like you need to adjust rod from the keyswicth to the ignition switch (located at the bottom of the steering colum). Ill look in my Manual.

OK: They say when removing the cylinder it should have ben in the lock position..Assembly insert with key in off position.

Pull lock cylinder back out and start over. Check and make sure you start with the gear in the colum at the off position. Then install the new ignition cylinder also in the off position.

If this doent work then all you have to do is, at the bottom of the colum were it mounts to the dash take off the 4 -7/16 & 2 1/2 bolts which will alow you to see the ignition swtch. This is were you can see a rod coming from the top of the inside colum to the bottom of the ignition switch. Now after you check the key cylinder (make sure its in the off position) then you can check to see if the ignition at the botom of the colum is also in the off position ( this is were you can adjust very slightly if the key feels like its not fully ingageing in all positions) All you gota due is losen the 2-5/16 bolts and check the rod position and also the fine tuning of the key positions. I did the same thing, if you get into it this far which is very easy then make sure the rod moves freely and is straight not bent.

Thanks SKEETER! I will try to get the cylinder out again (no luck with this so far) and check the rest.

OK...I got the cylinder back out after some persuation. The gear in the colum (looks like where the back of the cylinder connects to a plastic piece which has gears to turn the ignition) I tried to turn the gear and it would not turn. Is this bad? It all looks to be in the off position. What next?

OK...I got the cylinder back out after some persuation. The gear in the colum (looks like where the back of the cylinder connects to a plastic piece which has gears to turn the ignition) I tried to turn the gear and it would not turn. Is this bad? It all looks to be in the off position. What next?
Can you tell me exactly how felt befor the key when installed and after (what it felt like & what positions were you able to get).

It sounds like when you install the cylinder, Youl have to adjust the ignition switch at the bottom of the colum. Which is very easy to do.

You should be able to put a screw driver in were the gear is and turn it back and forth. That gear trigers the rod on the position to the ignition switch at the bottom of the colum.

If it felt right, but just not enough to ingage it to start, Then do the miner adjustment at the bottom of the colum. Take the bottom colar off were it mounts to the bottom of the dash and youl see the switch on the top side of the colum, take a 5/16 open end rench and loosen very little so you can slide the switch up/down to give you a litle more rod. This will alow you to ingage the sart position with using the key to turn, but make sure you check it befor you put it back together.

Looking through the cylinder hole it seems as if the round plastic gear that mates to the back of the cylinder is pushed in too far, causing it to be jammed.

The old cylinder was busted up and would not turn at all and when I put the new one in it turned freely as it would if it were out of the colum.

I have tried to pull the plastic piece out some but cant get a good grip on it and dont want to break it.

Dont pull on the plastic sector gear. But when the new or old key cylinder was in did the car start, or did the ignition lights on the dash come on.

The car has not run since I bought it. The guy I bought it from lost the keys and beat up the old cylinder so it has never turned while in my possession.

Ok then read my PM and PM back i will show you how to hot start from the bottom of the colum. To eliminate some other issues

When moving the rod up or down be carfull it may sart the car.

Sorry, I forgot to mention the engine is not in the car (being built). All this is in prep for the motor to go in in the next month or so.

Sorry, I forgot to mention the engine is not in the car (being built). All this is in prep for the motor to go in in the next month or so.
Ok then after taking the 4-7/16 & 2-1/2 bolts off will alow you to see the ignition swicth, which will have that thin rod runing up from the switch to the gear in the colum. If you can move the rod at the same time look to see if the gear moves if so good. Then push the rod up or down to locate the gear in the off position & insert the key cylinder, after the key cylinder is installed turn the key on & off in all position, the next thing is to time the key vers the rod and switch. You can slide
the switch up or down very little to compesate the positions but not alot.

Hey Matt ive got the new gear, your welcome to it. But you should by the switch to.

Thanks! Just PMed you.

I assume that you have a standard (non-adjustable) steering column and not a tilt column. The two types of columns are similar but most of the parts in the locking column head are unique as to type.

The lock cylinder should engage the plastic sector gear when you plug the lock cylinder into the column housing. The teeth on the plastic sector should engage the teeth on a small die cast rack inside the column head. That rack is attached to the thin rod that reaches down under the dash to your ignition switch. It sounds as if the plastic sector gear may be damaged and needs to be replaced.

I have fairly complete instructions on disassembly and repair of the Saginaw steering column that includes the rack and sector. You need to go to www.corvettefaq.com

Click on Jim Shea's Steering Papers
Click on A & F-Car Steering Papers
Scroll down to the 69-76 Standard Steering Column Section
Download the three Disassembly & Repair Papers #1, 2, & 3
Download the two Disassembly & Repair Pics #1 & 2
Download the blowup drawing for the 1969 through 76 column

Some of the Pics include drawings of the steering column with the dimmer pivot in the column head. You will need to disregard some of the dimmer hardware. The lock cylinder and ignition switch stuff stays the same.

JIML82

JIML82: Thanks for chimin in, sounds alout more simpler coming from you. Great web also i was gona e-mail him but dont have to.....

Just want thank you again on clearing my other thread up, next time i have any questions if you dont mine, ill look for you. Skeeter55

Yes, the gear is bad and needs to be replaced. I have the ignition switch out and it looks to be in good condition. It only has 3 positions for the key to be in. Is this correct?

Also, when you turn the key to start and it automaticlly returns to run, what causes the return? Nothing I have taken apart seems to make the key return to the run position.

Hope this make sence.

Matt

As I am sitting here playing with the ignition switch I found how the return works. Its in the switch. Kind of tight but there.

JIML82, I can't find the link to the Tilt Column Paper #3....

Tilt Strg Column 69-76 Disassembly & Repair Paper #3 (Rev 20AU07) - Repair loose pivot pins & lock shoes, tighten support screws, delash plastic tilt pivot, replace rack, sector, & upper bearings, replace lower column bearing

Is there somewhere else I should be looking? Thanks for the info!!!

Here is a direct link to D&R Paper #3

http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/tiltcolumndr_320aun07.doc

Sorry, I don't know what happened to the Link. It is fixed now.

JIML82