The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Ignition switch with floor start

OK, nobody seems to be making them anymore. What are people like me doing who want to keep the floor start??

What year?

1959, and that seems to be the problem

doesn't matter which switch is used, just wire it to suit, using the spring loaded key start position isn't necessary ... or hunt for a good used switch

Bill

Note that it is not stock. Requires a modification to the dash, as per my conversation with their tech guy earlier.

"What are people doing"? was the question. Didn't say stock. I used one. No modification that I remember. I may have a "stock" one here..Stock has an anti-rotation tab. Universal does not. As Bill said, a spring loaded one will also work and look correct. It is known as the V8 switch and was used in TF. (10% off sale on now)

the "problem" is that the simpler foot start ignition switch is not reproduced, the only new "off/on" ignition switch available is the generic one like Bart linked, sometimes called a forklift ignition switch

Bill

I have a '52 I'm doing a resto-mod on and wanted to keep the foot start pedal. I ran across an on/off push button switch that I can mount to the toeboard, then I intend to weld on the head of the foot stomp pedal to the top of this new switch. By keeping the original on/off key switch I will then be able to step on the starter switch, which will have a wire running straight to the starter on my 350 engine!

What does that have to do with digging taters? He wants a '59 6 cylinder ignition switch. The vendors only offer a V8 one. The one I dealt with denied that there ever was such an animal as an on/off only switch in '59.

I ended up drilling the lock cylinder out and using a new cylinder. Fortunately my switch was good.

52Mark: Be sure it's a momentary on switch. Also, welding to it may damage electrical contacts and other parts, It would be better to let the mechanism of the foot switch push against the momentary on switch. It better be one that can handle the draw, not a Mickey Mouse $2 switch.

Bart, 52Mark stole that switch from me. It is momentary and very heavy duty. If he ever takes off the 2400 pounds of household crap off of it, I plan on helping him get his project back on track. He is the only reason that I got back on my project after sitting on it for 20 years. Now its my turn to light the fire under him.
Carl

Hail to the 52 club!

Does someone sell that switch you ran across? I'd like to have one myself.

Thanks
Tim

No. That switch is only available by stealing it from a fellow picker. We (I!) found it in a big box of extraneous parts from a guy. No idea what its original purpose was.
Carl

Tim: A lot of times if you need rugged, somewhat weather proof switches, look to tractors. Like Tractor Supply CO. PN DR405C or equiv. It is 6V. Should be OK for 12V also. I do not know if it is momentary but assume it is. Another is 9N11450A, same website.

What about this from The Filling Station?
http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb.dll?parta~dyndetail~Z5Z5Z50000014a~Z5Z5Z54057~P19.50~~~~S48J0QDRPI64134296080e~Z5Z5Z5~Z5Z5Z50000014x

yes Rev, that FS switch is the type often called a forklift ignition switch, should be available at your local auto parts store, like NAPA - and should fit the dash without modification .... but if you use the 55-59 V8 style, wired for a foot start, you can also have the factory light in it

Bill

What's this "factory light" of which you speak??

We shyed away from mentioning a "universal" switch because you seemed to want "stock". The closest to stock, new, as we have said already, is the V8 switch. It has a hole in housing for a socket and bulb to light up the key hole at night. Wired to dash lights I think. Next closest thing to stock is a used stock one from Ebay, swap meet, wanted section here, etc. Not sure what you want as far as stock looking, fit, the nut, the terminals. Now you have all the options and can choose what fits your fancy.

i have a 59 with the stomp starter, It has a aftermarket on/off sw. not orig. would love to see a pic of a orig sw. Just so I can try to find something that looks correct.

Rev, the original switches have a light socket housing on them, the side part here behind the red piece, as Bart sez, it hooks to the dash loghts and light shines out the keyhole when the park lights are put on

59chevy, the pic above is the appearance of the switch for 55-59, and this is the bezel that holds it in place

really, there is no reason not to use the "V8 switch" on a 6cyl [foot start] truck, the wiring is easy to adapt

Bill

Thanks for the pic. I was thinking there would be something behind the bezel that said lock/on/ acc like on the car switches.

there's a plastic piece available that is held to the dash by the bezel, but it's for the V8 with a "start" position [like the cars, which didn't have foot start], and no ACC position yet

Bill

PathwayRev,

The original GM ignition switch part number you're looking for is 1116522. There are at least six NOS available on eBay now, ranging in price from $50 to $135.

Bob

Bottom line seems to be that I can go with one that functions like the original ("forklift") or looks like the original (V8).

Yesterday I ordered the "forklift" from the Filling Station. Measurements are close enough that I think it will cover the hole in the dash. And I like that it only has one position. It's cheap enough that if I don't like the looks I'll go with the V8 switch.

And yes, my goal is a stock look. My mods are discreet and function-related, like the T5 with stock shift rod, dual MC, etc.

Again, thanks for the help, folks.

Your local parts store should have the "fork lift" switch. It's just a generic ignition switch with a start position.

The local parts store can also get a simple on/off ignition switch that will fit the dash hole if you want a simple off/on switch.

Then if you decided the look wasn't right it's easier to return.

I got a fork lift switch today in a box of parts I'd ordered and I'm not especially happy with it. The knurled bezel doesn't look right and the diameter isn't sufficient to cover the extension slot that's part of the stock hole cut in the dash. I'm not going for a show truck but this miss is just a little too obvious for me.
FYI for others looking for a replacement switch.

59 Apache Dix is sending me a V8 switch he's got (thank you, sir!) and I'll wire that one in for a better look. So if someone's looking for a forklift switch PM me.