1970 Ignition Switch

[ForceFed70]

Does anyone know where a guy can buy a new ignition switch for a 1970?

Everywhere I go either doesn't have them or shows that they are no longer available.

The 71-72 switch looks similar... can it be made to work?

 

[Swede958]

As far as I know absolutely no one makes a '70 switch ( I had same problem). I took one from a 73 and cut my original wires and soldered them onto the new switch. Worked like a charm. The only difference is that the 73 switch has a different connector and a shorter harness

 

[wild70stang]

Yes there is one. When you guys told me it was safe to cut the ignition coil wire, a power surge was sent throughout my car upon starting her(not sure if a fuse was to blame). Anyway I will try to talk to the mechanic who replaced that piece, and several others.

 

[ForceFed70]

I took one from a 73 and cut my original wires and soldered them onto the new switch. Worked like a charm. The only difference is that the 73 switch has a different connector and a shorter harness

Thanks! I'll do the same with mine.

 

[Hack]

Maybe I'm confused here, but are you talking about the switch that the ignition key goes into?

I bought a complete set of locks with the keys to go with them from my local Ford dealer. I suppose they are obsolete, but maybe some dealers still have them laying around. I think I bought them 8 or 9 years ago.

IMO it would be worth spending some time scouring for a complete set, because who wants an ignition that doesn't match the rest of the locks on the car?

 

[ForceFed70]

Maybe I'm confused here, but are you talking about the switch that the ignition key goes into?

I bought a complete set of locks with the keys to go with them from my local Ford dealer. I suppose they are obsolete, but maybe some dealers still have them laying around. I think I bought them 8 or 9 years ago.

IMO it would be worth spending some time scouring for a complete set, because who wants an ignition that doesn't match the rest of the locks on the car?

Actually, it's not the lock that I need to change.

From 1970 on, ford moved to a 2 piece design for the ignition assembly. The switch is connected to the lock by a rod that moves in and out when the key is turned (ignition assembly was moved to steering colum in 1970).

 

[jbuening]

This really may not help much, but there is a place in Kentucky that sells them. Kentucky Mustang i believe is their name. Anyhoo they are Sorenson switchs and they sell for $70. Just make sure you tell him how many wires your switch has. A fellow on the VMF ordered one and got the wrong one. He said he had 6 and 7 wire switches, but i can't remember how many the mustang ones had. The other switch is probably for a 71-73 or another ford.

In the past, i just spliced my connector onto the 71-73 units and it worked like a charm.

 

[shotsy]

I had to take one from a 71 and cut the wires, here's a little info

 

[jbuening]

Any tips on splicing in the yellow and black wires? the gauge on them are pretty large and i had a tough time keeping the splice size small.

 

[ForceFed70]

Any tips on splicing in the yellow and black wires? the gauge on them are pretty large and i had a tough time keeping the splice size small.

It shouldn't be a problem if you cut the wires, solder them together and cover with heatshrink. If you practice on a different piece of wire you should get the splice so that it's only thicker by size of the shrinkwrap covering.

I'll try to get a couple of pics for when I do mine. The key is having a good soldering iron that can heat up those heavy guage wires hot enough to do a good soldering job, and quick enough so that the heat doesn't spread too much and melt the wire insulation near the splice.