push button ignition

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straightlinespeed

straightlinespeed

Sometimes I pretend to be normal
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Im swapping out my column in my 71 scamp and it currently has the ignition on the column. The new column is out of a 68 cuda no ignition on column. I was debating about putting in push button ignition but not sure how to do that since I will no longer have the auxillary to power the radio and such. Or am I better off installing a actuall keyed ignition on the dash? Thoughts, ideas??
 
...............Well..................there's about a thousand ways to do this.................

1--The obvious, get a different column, IE a 70/ later column and keep the column mounted ignition

2--"actuall keyed ignition on the dash", you say. Well if you do NOT do this, what WILL you do? In many states, it is illegal to leave keys in the ignition, IE if you don't have some sort of lock, you cannot protect the car from theft, and may open yourself to liability. Some kid steals the car, wrecks the car and injures someone, maybe themselves, and a smart lawyer realizes you MADE the car easy to steal because there's no lock. Hope you have a lawyer.

3--Some sort of hidden push button/ toggle/ latching relay, but this does not address the "accessory" issue

4--Adapt an aftermarket antitheft system which disables the fuel pump/ ignition/ etc

5--Figure out a way to construct a mount for a switch in the dash.

Option "1" seems like the way out, to me.
 
When I switched to an orange box in my old RamCharger, I did this. All I did was wire a toggle in to replace the "run" position of the key and a push-button for the starter. The stock ignition switch became nothing more than a key-holder really.

By having the toggle, I was still able to have acc. power for my radio, CB, etc. You could do the same setup with a keyed switch instead of a toggle but at that point, why not just pop a hole in the dash and install a proper ignition switch that can be key-matched to your doors?
 
Ya know there's something I forgot to mention, and that is SAFETY.

Ever have a throttle stick? Return spring come off? One time I had one of those old "pizza pie" air cleaners, and the very short stud came loose, vibrated out of the nut, AND the carb, and fell down into the throttle bores

Sometimes it's just pretty damn handy to be able to reach up there an turn that key and know that a split second later, that engine is going to STOP
 
I do still like the fact of a standard keyed ignition. I'm just seeing lots of newer cars with touch start where there is no key required. Granted you have to have the key fob in your pocket.

I've thought about just adding a ignition switch like what the 68 cuda had on the dash. But I was also thinking, is there a way to add it to the column, if I got a different trim collar??

I would think about a new style column but just shelled out the money to get this one and cant afford to get a different one.
 
67Dart273 said:
Ya know there's something I forgot to mention, and that is SAFETY.

Ever have a throttle stick? Return spring come off? One time I had one of those old "pizza pie" air cleaners, and the very short stud came loose, vibrated out of the nut, AND the carb, and fell down into the throttle bores

Sometimes it's just pretty damn handy to be able to reach up there an turn that key and know that a split second later, that engine is going to STOP
Click to expand...

This is exactly why people died driving toyota products a few years back. Early in 2010 the news media beat the horse bloody with stories of "unintended acceleration" from various toyota products. The culprit ended up being the fact that owners are dumb and have multiple/extra thick floor mats and the gas pedal would catch the edge of the mat and not be able to return to idle. Here comes the dangerous part. Smart key equipped (meaning keyless start) toyotas will NOT turn off their engine in drive while moving unless you hold the start button in for about 5 seconds. So the basic equation was vehicle at full throttle, panic stricken owner, and no quick easy off switch. Remember at full throttle you have no vacuum for brakes, so unless you only apply the brakes once and absolutely stand on the pedal you have no chance of stopping a run away engine because the second time you push the brake pedal you won't have assist.

I deal with the smart key systems as part of my job and I don't like them. The extra complexity is not worth it in my opinion. Is it really that hard to insert and rotate. No question at all I would mount a dash keyed switch or install a proper key column. No toggles, no push buttons, no add on smart key systems(they are available). The honda s2000 and the dodge ram srt10 both had a push button start from the factory. They were both ignorant setups because on both you had to insert an ignition key and rotate it to run and then push the button. It is so much simpler to just rotate the switch another 10 degrees and release when it runs.
 
I have a credit card ignition in one of my Plymouth's, so I just keep the special card in my wallet
 
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