[vmatt350]

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

[prostreet69camaro]

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

[vmatt350]

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

[vmatt350]

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!!!

[Skeeter55]

Originally Posted by vmatt350

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.

[Skeeter55]

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

[Skeeter55]

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.

[Skeeter55]

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.

[vmatt350]

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

[vmatt350]

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?

[Skeeter55]

Originally Posted by vmatt350

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).

[Skeeter55]

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.

[Skeeter55]

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.

[Skeeter55]

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.

[vmatt350]

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.