I am interested in any recommendations on how/who would be good to rebuild an original ignition switch for an early '58. Is it possible, easy to do, require special tools or patience?
Cheers,
Don
Cheers,
Don
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Re: C1 Ignition Switch Rebuild?
Don,
If its anything like the 61-68 switches, it can be taken apart and cleaned, spare parts if needed are not available from any source I know of other than donor switches, lots of these switches have very similar internals.
The housings are die cast and the rear is phenolic and molded, the internal switch contact is a very simple design but also very susceptible to arcing and carbon build up. The rear housing is put in place and the main housing has a lip or ears that is pressed or crimped over to retain it. If one is handy and very gentle the crimped area can be pulled back just enough to take it apart, do what needs to be done and reassemble by again carefully recrimping, I usually use just a pair of channel locks to do this, being of die cast material it does not usually flex much without fracturing, if it does, no worries as you can then simply use epoxy to secure it. Saved a lot of original switches this way! Many other dash switches, reverse light, brake light and nutural safety switches are of the same basic construction and the same technique can be used to save them.
Bill -
Re: C1 Ignition Switch Rebuild?
Maybe you could also give Jack Humphreys an email he is very handy on electrical. I just repaired my Delco ignition for my 1960 and it works very well again. I had an external problem where a contact on the phenolic rear part of the ignition was loose and was making intermittent contact so I dripped solder onto it and the contact is now nice and tight. Ignition now works well. StewyComment
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Re: C1 Ignition Switch Rebuild?
Bill/Stewart, Thank you for the quick and thorough response. From the discriptions and recommendations, it sounds as though the switch is pretty basic and mont much too it. I will dissasemble the switch and fix/restore as needed.
Thank you again,
DonComment
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Re: C1 Ignition Switch Rebuild?
Don can you do me a really big favor, when you have the ignition open can you take a photo of the internal guts. I have never seen inside one. StewyComment
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Re: C1 Ignition Switch Rebuild?
Will do.... although I have two other tasks ahead of the ignition. Stay tuned.
DonComment
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Re: C1 Ignition Switch Rebuild?
Bill Clupper wrote an article in the Restorer about rebuilding an ignition switch. Basically it involved gently heating the tabs of the housing to remove the inner guts and exchanging them with the guts of a donor switch. Forgot the Vol # but was about 6 years ago.Comment
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Re: C1 Ignition Switch Rebuild?
Biggest issue is finding a donor NOS part to replace the original. Usual problem is loosening of crimp at the terminals that connect to the contacts inside the switch or deterioration of the contacts inside the switch itself. I got into mine to correct a problem with the car "Quitting" for no descernable reason other than loss of electrical power. See Vol 27 #3 for instructions. I believe the part used for the 58-60 and 61-62 are the same.Bill Clupper #618Comment
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Re: C1 Ignition Switch Rebuild?
Ignition switches are rather healthy critters to disassemble, clean, and re-assemble. Once you de-crimp the main body, the inside 'guts' are readily evident as to what goes where and what does what...
Headlight switches are easier to disassemble, but there are more internal components and the first time you take one apart the spring loaded components of the main contact shuttle tend to 'explode' causing you to scratch your head as to what goes where in terms of re-assy...Comment
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Re: C1 Ignition Switch Rebuild?
Don-I have a spare 547 ignition switch if you need one. FYI, the 577 switch for the 61-62's will work also.Comment
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