Ho-ly shit. Talk about shitting pink twinkies! This scared the stuff out of me! I had just gotten the RPU back on the road after changing over the spring perches and having the rear spring remade and brakes bled, you know the stuff. I cruised over to 51Iron's shop to show him the result of our handywork, took him for a ride, then drove it back home. About 7 blocks from my house I pulled up and stopped for a stop sign. Then I heard a snap or something like an arc and then had SMOKE coming out from behind the dash. I wound up pushing it home from there. Anyway, now I need to find me a keyed switch like the one I just fried. All this stuff occured between the Model A dash and the firewall. Almost zero issue or damage (other than the one wire that shorted out) in the engine compartment. I removed the burnt wiring and wound up running a jumper wire to the coil and fired it up and drove it into the garage. Had to stand on the brakes and let the clutch out to kill it. Anyone know where I can find an ingnition switch like the one pictured? I need it ASAP. Well, here's the pictures.
Is that a key start switch, or is it an on/off switch with a start button elsewhere? Either way, your basic $12.99 NAPA universal keyswitch will work. It will have a spot for ignition, batt and start. (maybe even accessory if it is the fancy model) Holler if you need a hand with the wiring, -Abone. PS. Glad you and your little roadster didn't get messed up.. Car fires suck.
That's exactly the switch type it is. I'll have to check with Napa, as it probably came from them in the first place. The only thing is that it is a smaller switch than what Orielly'e and Autozone had on their shelves. Like I said, it scared the hell out of me, and the damned battery is under the floorboard. One of the first things on my list is a disconnect switch for the battery. I'll check with Napa in the AM an see if they've got what I'm needing. Thanks for the heads up!
Any chance that a 77-78 and probably later Ford pickup switch would fit? Kinda looks like maybe so. Better quality than some of the universal switches available at parts houses etc. Fairly small on the drivers side, a bit larger on the underside. Note that there are a couple of types. One with more terminals than the other. Get one at a junkyard and get a couple of keys and new tumbler at a parts house. Do get the ignition switch plug at the junkyard when you grab the switch. Fwiw, female spade terminals fit, but the stock Ford plug is better and harder to hot wire if you cover the plug with a piece of tubing . . which is the same stuff that covers the plug. You can also buy these switchs sans plug at the parts house. There's a small trick to getting the new tumblers in with the new key that works most times. A locksmith can do it or you can, lemme know if you do it yourself and I may be able to help....
I've never really paid attention to the underside of the dash of my RPU.... but I do have and am currently using the stock tank. Wouldn't the tank or underside of the dash get into the way of that type of switch?
Hey man had the same thing happen in my 54 chev. I run a Napa store and that looks like a switch that I stock if you cannot find one I can get in my echlin book and find you one. PM me if you need a hand or give me a call at 501 982 1591 that is my store line, ask for James.
Most new switches are bigger and prob wont work with the stock tank.............now that makes your short scarier!!!!!! Fuel and arcing? I would blank out that spot temp. and mount a switch on a sub panel below the dash if you cant find the right one in the next couple days.
I've been contemplating moving the switch to the center position on the dash in place of the old useless dash light. Then move the light over to where the ignition switch was located. This isn't the first time I've had an issue with this switch, and from the look of the surrounding area and 'scars' under the paint, I don't think I'm the first. However, once I'm done, I should be the last. I've also got to get the speedo working too. While I had the dash out, I noticed that the speedo goes up to 75. That should serve as enough to keep me happy while I'm driving it.
I read somewhere that you should double check to make sure there is enough room behind the switch or you will short out like the picture shows, maybe a thin insulation behind the switch?
Yeah, I like em so well that I'm using another one in the 31. You'll need a small spacer to get the switch up high enough in the screw-on retainer plate so things look right. I use 1 5/8" OD .120 wall aluminum tubing. Nice part about the Ford ignition switches is the double sided key. A lot of folks don't realize you can have the key ground to two different patterns so that one key fits two cars. I like the key on the left side for several reasons. It is easy - and quick - to get used to as witness all the 50's era & up Fords that have them that way stock. You can reach in and shut the engine down during tune-ups. Starting from the outside is easy too, but you really need to be careful there. DRD57's A coupe about ate him up when it launched in reverse on startup and knocked him down. And most importantly, the key is out of reach of the passenger. Nothin' quite like exceeding 5 grand on the way to 6500 and having the passenger get panicked, try to turn the key off and flip it in the wrong direction. I didn't know a flywheel could make such a sound....
This is one of the reasons I use a bunch of relays, Flower's roadster has a steel diamond plate dash so a shorted switch wouldn't hurt as much but I HATE FIRES. Her ignition switch (from the aircraft surplus store over in Burbank) just closes a relay on the electrical panel. My sedan runs relays for everything as well.
Replace the switch with a toggle and a push to start button. The use a keyed master switch between the battery and the starter.
Talk about shitting pink twinkies!<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o> <o></o> As a new entry into the modern dictionary of Hot Rod sayings to cover the inevitable experiences on the road.<o></o> <o></o> This is attributed to Goztrider.<o></o> <o></o> HAMB is fortunate to have such esteemed teachers of the Tulsa Public School System amongst the members to keep the level of post and creative righting high.<o></o> <o></o> A Tulsan by birth and education.<o></o> David
This happened completely behind and between a bolted down panel and the firewall. There is a tube that runs beneath the gas tank to enclose the wires. Basically, to have shot a fire extinguisher at this mess would have been like standing outside your house with the door locked and shooting a fire extinguisher at the door in an attempt to put out the fire on the kitchen stove! I had an extinguisher with me. What good would it have been to use it here? Ummm... An insult or a complement are both interpreted and translated by the intended reciever. In this case, since I cannot determine which is the true meaning of your message, I say thank you! I think...
wow! close call teach!! like BJR said man , glad nothing really bad happened ..<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=alt2 style="BORDER-RIGHT: 1px inset; BORDER-TOP: 1px inset; BORDER-LEFT: 1px inset; BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px inset">Originally Posted by BJR It's been said here before: we should all CARRY A FIRE EXTINGUISHER in our cars! </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
There must be a way to use a relay and divert the big loads away from the switch, eh? Every car needs a rapid battery disconnect within reach of the driver, in my humble opinion (and outside too, of course, ifn you be racing). Gary
Meant to be a very high level of complement. I am sorry it is confusing. Well, I am confused often...so I can see how my communications would cause confusion too. Just glad there was no real damage. David
No problem David. As you can see, I played with your comment in jest anyway, so either way, it's all good! I found a switch today, and I'm thinking that while I've got it all apart, I'm going to try to work on getting the speedo working and adapted to the Pinto transmission, so this thing may have happened at a good time anyway.
Got fuses/fuseable links on those lines? ......better grab a fire extinguisher while your at it too. Glad to see your all right. -Bigchief.
I've got this gas tank I'm storing for a buddy of mine that I was eyballing today to replace that tank in the dash. Either that or I'm going to be making myself one here soon methinks.
I just replaced the ignition switch on a friends Model A with the tank still there. She was running a simple off/on switch, that fell apart, and a starter button. The universal start switches wouldn't fit in the space, too deep. But I did find a marine switch that fit perfectly and has a start position. I found it at Carquest a little more expensive than the universal but an easy fix. I don't remember the number but I may have it at home or can get it.
I found an almost exact replacement today at Napa as suggested by someone else on here. It was a bit expensive at almost $30, but it should be exactly what I need. I also swapped where the stock dash light and this ignition switch was located, and that'll help with clearance issues as well. I'll be installing a circuit breaker which'll also help prevent meltdowns.
with your lack of clearance may i suggest plastic acorn nuts on your exposed terminals any hardware store has em they are typicly used on kids toys or kitchen appliances or line the concave area behind witha plastic bowl checkin for shorts is supposed to fun..
The Jalopy Journal
