1949 chevy ignition switch and headlight switch for a 12 volt system

HAMBers, having some issues. got the stock headlight switch for a 1949 chevy business coupe from NAPA and when me and a buddy were wiring it up, it was sparking. finally realizing it was the 6 volt switch, we gave up. now im looking for an ignition switch and still need to find the headlight switch. ( im using an EZ wiring harness if that makes any difference). just looking for some info or part numbers out there on these 2 items. this is my first time wiring a car. thanks.

 

A switch dont care if it's wired to 6 volts 12 volts or whatever volts. Thousands of thesr cars are running "6 volt" switches.

 

A GM headlight switch is pretty much a GM headlight switch, get one with the plug and you can probably even swap out the knob and shaft for the original, along with the collar on the dash. I would dump the stocker there and use a newer one (60s, 70s, 80s), I think the EZ wire kit actually comes with a plug for one of those. They're usually marked what the wires are, so they're easier to wire up than the original is.

For that matter, the same deal on the ignition switches, you could use any GM dash mounted ignition switch and should be able to mount it with the factory Chevy collar. Probably even switch out the cylinder and keep the original one for the car if you want. I've had them out before and they look the same and use the same key blank be they 54 and back 6V or 55-68 12V. There, the EZ wire kit may be aimed at using a later column with the switch in it but it should be no big deal to just run those wires to a dash switch.

 

I'm still running my stock headlight switch in my 49 Fleetline and I converted to 12 volt and I'm using a Painless kit with no problems.

 

thanks for the quick replies.

 

<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <woNotOptimizeForBrowser/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> There is no problem using the original light switch, I used the original in my 50 Chevy for about 15 years before it stop working and I put about 50,000 miles on a car that had 95,000 miles on it when I got it.