The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay 1954 chevy truck ignition switch

Ok so can anyone tell me what the Delco/Remey part number was for a 1954 chevy truck ignition switch? Mine went south on me so I had to get a new one. I bought a 1116469 nos on eBay. The outside case on mine and the new one look the same, but the inside looks a little different. My tumbler fits in the new one fine but instead of having 2 positions of just on and off, I have 3. The middle one keeps it on while the outside 2 shut it off. It said this was for my year and truck but I don't think it is lol.

So would the 1116479 be the right one then? I guess I'll use this one until I find the right one.

The 54 truck ignition switch is a two position........ON and OFF. You supply hot to one terminal and by turning switch to ON you pass the hot to the other terminal/or other two terminals wired to foot switch/coil and other components as desired. (Accessories)

And, you can wire it for turn left or turn right ON. I wired mine backwords in 1981, and it has been backwards even since then.

The foot switch is always hot. Turn the ignition switch On and you send power to the coil.

And power to the coil comes on without the ignition switch being on if one has +12 volts to terminal on the coil with the ignition resistor bypass in the starter switch.

Ed

The 1116469 that I bought does work, but it has 3 positions in it. As stated mine is suppose to be just on and off. I think the correct number for mine should have been the 1116479 and not the 1116469. The 1116469 that I just bought also allows me to take the key out of the ignition no mater which position it's in, even when it's running. That for sure can't be right. Anyway I guess it will work for now until I find the correct unit.

The 1116469 that I bought does work, but it has 3 positions in it. As stated mine is suppose to be just on and off. I think the correct number for mine should have been the 1116479 and not the 1116469. The 1116469 that I just bought also allows me to take the key out of the ignition no mater which position it's in, even when it's running. That for sure can't be right. Anyway I guess it will work for now until I find the correct unit.

Is this discussion about a 12v system? I missed that detail/modification - sorry.

It's for 6 volt with a floor starter, sorry I forgot to mention that.

1954 is 6 volts. Unless modified. No resistor.

'54 GMC 630 is 12v pos. gnd.

Ed

Hmmm, a much different world than the topic of this discussion?

Ed, don't you mean 12 volt?
Jerry

In 1955 Blue Chip GMC 630 trucks, the standard electrical system was still 6v positive ground, except for Diesel engines, which were 12v positive ground, with a 6v companion battery. 12v was an option for non-Diesel 630s in 1955.

http://www.1955gmc.com/1955-59gmcliterature/pictures/1955NewModels.pdf

Most likely, all Z-series (54/55 New Design) GMC trucks had 6v postive ground electrical systems? I'll try to remember to look at a Shop Manual.

A different world from the 6v negative ground 1954 chevrolet (same for all size trucks) that started this discussion.

Yep, sorry Jerry.

Ed

1116464 54-55 Commercial Utility Truck, for FFC (flat face cowl) SBC (School bus chassis)
1116469 51-52 Passenger car
1116479 54-55 1st Commercial Utility Truck
1458180 1935-1957 Cylinder All
Source: 1929 - 1957 Chevrolet Master Parts & Accessories Catalog
Page 1, Group # 2.188
Page 2, Group # 2.188

Which one of these switches looks like the one you bought on eBay?
Click here

1116469 and 1116479 on the outside might look the same but could be different on the inside.
The original 51-52 Passenger car ignition switch I think had 3 positions in it.
That may be the reason why you're getting 3 positions and why the key can be taken out regardless of position..

One thing to keep in mind, through the years these parts numbers have been superseded by new parts numbers.

The 47-53 truck switch has a stamped sheet metal mounting bracket. to hold it in place.
The 54,55-1 switch has a stainless bezel nut to hold it into the dash, in pre-notched slots.
Pretty much everything about the 54 dash is different from 47-53.
Thd rummys on ebay are just generalizing, which screws it up for most of us, they really dont know what theyre selling.nTheres 3 or 4 different switches that they just have lumped into
one , and who gets to pay the return postg?
When the listing tells you its "naturally aspirated" ?for an ign switch? I sure as yell aint shopping there

So Jorb, the one on the bottom in the link you posted is the one I bought. Both the new one and original one on the truck look identical on the outside but are definitely different on the inside.

That is what I expected,
What you have is a original 51-52 passenger car 3 position switch Read the 1952 owners manual
It has 3 positions: LOCKED OFF, ON, UNLOCKED OFF 1951 passenger car switch
The face of the lock cylinder has a protruding medal slot so you can turn the cylinder without the key.

What is strange is the 51-52 passenger car 3 position switch and the 54-55 1st series 2 position switch , in a lot of listing, use the same 1116469 part #.
My hunch is the reproduced switch is a 2 position switch and will also work in the 51-52 passenger car.
They just done away with the 3rd LOCKED OFF position, It will work in the 51-52 passenger car just fine.
The repo switch and the original switches all have 3 wire terminals on the back.

You just happen to buy an original 51-52 passenger car 3 position switch, not the repo 2 position switch.

Is there any numbers on the two switches you have?

You can use the 1954 flat face lock cylinder in the original 51-52 passenger car 3 position switch, but you will not be able to use it without the key as it was intended.

If you want an original NOS switch I would go to https://www.partsvoice.com/ and punch in this part # 1116479
Have them take pictures of the inside and outside of the switch before you buy.
Maybe they will swap the switch you bought on eBay, for a correct 54-55 1st, 1116479 switch.