So has anyone drilled out an ignition when you don't have a key?

jmont64 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

So has anyone drilled out an ignition when you don't have a key?

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

Best thing is to pull the steering wheel, depress the little plastic tab and then the cylinder pulls out. After that you can rotate the little gear in there with a screwdriver.

Or just go underneath the car and pull the pin out of the shift linkage, then drop the lever. But that still won't let you steer it. Do you need to steer it or would it just go straight onto a trailer?

jmont64 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Probably could load and unload without steering but you know how that works if you want to make a little adjustment. I think rather than trailer it I'll get my buddy with his deck truck. We can then just pull it part way onto the deck so we can get under nicely and pull the pin out of the shift linkage. I can then pull the wheel off at home and do what it takes.

seventy2plus2 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

You can remove the steering wheel, remove the lock plate cover by removing 3 small screws, then remove the lock plate. The lock plate is held in by a ring clip, so push down on the lock plate, and use a small screwdriver or awl to somehow get the ring clip out of it's groove, then up and over the end of the column shaft. With the lock plate removed, you should be able to steer the car by reinstalling the steering wheel.

Prefectca · Poncho Master!

Back in the day people screwed a dent pulled into the key slot and pulled the lock cylinder out. Thats how thieves did it. I replaced lock cylinders in cars that were stolen, didnt seem to damage the column. In the late 70s GM added a screw so the cylinder was retained and wouldnt pull out with a dent puller. Im not saying its the best way, but gives you an option, and no guarantee about damage to the column.

Paul

rebelrouser · Poncho Master!

I have rebuilt many a GM tilt column that generation back in the day. Very easy to disassemble. I still have a plethora of column parts here ignitions as well. You can have the column apart in a matter of minutes.

unruhjonny · Guru

I personally woulnd't drill it because it's (as mentioned) fairly easy to take apart.

I also have a collection of keys, they used to be all random inside two-2kg peanut butter containers, but I sorted them by code into bags;
You would probably be surprised at how often the same key codes were used;
My youngest brother actually bought a '77 TA (brown W72/auto car that now resides in Ontario) at a police auction without keys;
after it got towed to our house, he used my neighbour's key collection (smaller than my current collection), and found an ignition key that worked for his car!!

I cannot tell where you are, but if you're local to me, I can offer to pull apart, remove your ignition tumbler, then re-assemble your column... as long as I don't get cold ;)

-- Edited by unruhjonny on Monday 28th of October 2019 01:34:45 PM

jmont64 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

To be honest I dont care about the column at all. Its a column shift column and theres a million of them. I just want to be able to quickly turn the wheel and shift the gears so my buddy isnt being held up with his deck truck.

seventy2plus2 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Here's a photo of what you'd see once the steering wheel & lock plate cover are removed. The lock plate cover is held on by 3 small Phillips head screws.

There's the lock plate, and the pin (red circle) that is controlled by the key cylinder. If you remove the lock plate, the pin has nothing to lock.

To remove the lock plate, there's a small ring clip (yellow circle) that needs to come out. Some are easier to get out than others. The ring clip sits in a groove, and needs to get out of that groove, then up and over the threaded part of the column shaft. Push down on the lock plate, and use an awl or small screwdriver to get that ring clip out. It might take some tinkering, but that's the best solution.

Once the ring clip is totally removed, the lock plate comes off and the pin (red circle) has nothing to lock against. Put the steering wheel back on, and away you go.

Locking Column Lock Ring with markings.JPG

Prefectca · Poncho Master!