Changing from key to push button start?

[The Warlock2]

I posted this in the electrical section, but I’m thinking this may be a better place for it.

I have a ‘76 Camaro RS/LT drag car. I’d like to remove the stock ignition switch/key lock cylinder from the column and make the “power on” for the car be a rocker switch and then a push button start off a momentary contact switch.

Would removing the stock lock cylinder prevent the column from locking the steering wheel? Is there anything special I would need to do to ensure that the column/steering wheel would NOT lock?

I have a Painless switch bank, so I can use one of those rockers as the “power on” switch and its momentary contact switch for the start button. I just want to make sure I wire this properly, so that it works like the key did.

Any thoughts on which wires to wire to the rocker switch and which to the momentary switch? How difficult is it to remove the key cylinder? Any information on this process?

Edit: I’m pretty sure the “purple” wire that goes to the starter S terminal needs to go to the momentary switch and I’m guessing a constant 12v hot to the rocker, but trying to get thoughts on how others have wired their setup.

Thanks for any helpful information.
Mat

 

[1970camaroRS]

I didnt read all of this, but the common GM coloumn has a mechanism that rotates a collar that locks the steering wheel, you will want to make sure the collar is pinned, otherwise, it can freely rotate and bounce back and lock your steering while driving. Take it all apart and see how it works.

 

[The Warlock2]

I didnt read all of this, but the common GM coloumn has a mechanism that rotates a collar that locks the steering wheel, you will want to make sure the collar is pinned, otherwise, it can freely rotate and bounce back and lock your steering while driving. Take it all apart and see how it works.

Nathan,

Thank you for that. That's my biggest concern. I will try and find a video on this so I know what to look for. I do have a service manual for my 76, but I didn't see that off hand. I'll have to go back through it. Again, much appreciated!

 

[1970camaroRS]

Nathan,

Thank you for that. That's my biggest concern. I will try and find a video on this so I know what to look for. I do have a service manual for my 76, but I didn't see that off hand. I'll have to go back through it. Again, much appreciated!

No problem. If its an automatic coloumn shift, it will have an external collar that rotates with the shift lever as well, I think. Either way, there's a locking mechanism in there that will need to be taken care of.

 

[The Warlock2]

No problem. If its an automatic coloumn shift, it will have an external collar that rotates with the shift lever as well, I think. Either way, there's a locking mechanism in there that will need to be taken care of.

And, if you know, that is somehow related to the key itself?

It appears to have been an original automatic car, but, of course, it now has a floor shifter for the auto, but the key is still there in the column. However, I only see a lever near the firewall, where it looks like it would have moved with a column shift. But on the column itself inside, there is no "lug" where a handle for shifting would be. So, I don't know if they replaced the column with a manual shift column or not. But the wheel will lock when the key is moved off/removed.

As I mentioned, I just want to make it easier at the track, by flipping a rocker switch to power up everything on the car and press the button to start the car.

So, I figured that I would remove the key otherwise it's kind of pointless. LOL!

 

[1970camaroRS]

They probably pinned the shift rod somehow. I had a car where it was just wire tied to the coloumn. Once you yank the key tumbler out and pull the wheel, you can remove the locking part entirely.

 

[The Warlock2]

They probably pinned the shift rod somehow. I had a car where it was just wire tied to the coloumn. Once you yank the key tumbler out and pull the wheel, you can remove the locking part entirely.

I'll double check. I don't want to take a chance that I'm going down the track and something lets loose and locks the darn steering wheel!

 

[ULTM8Z]

I disabled the wheel locking mechanism on mine when I installed my keyless start system.

But I left the keyed igniton in the column and wired the keyless system "in parallel". If for some reason the keyless start system failed, I can stilll use the key (though that hasn't happened in the ~15 years I've had that system wired in).

I disabled the locking mechanism so I didn't have to put the key in the ignition to use the keyless start... lol.

 

[The Warlock2]

I disabled the wheel locking mechanism on mine when I installed my keyless start system.

But I left the keyed igniton in the column and wired the keyless system "in parallel". If for some reason the keyless start system failed, I can stilll use the key (though that hasn't happened in the ~15 years I've had that system wired in).

I disabled the locking mechanism so I didn't have to put the key in the ignition to use the keyless start... lol.

ULTM8Z - Was that difficult to do? How did you find out how to disable the wheel locking mechanism?

 

[FS87LT]

Is there not an external "OFF" switch for vehicular power on the (usually) rh rr of the car? Use that for the main power switch and then the momentary contact rocker switch for the starter functions. Otherwise you can use an interior switch, via relays, to control power to the vehicle.

Steering wheel lock? Remove the steering wheel assy. Then, with the appropriate tool, depress the lock plate and remove the circular retainer lock ring that keeps it in place. The lock ring slides off, over the splines, as if you were going to remove the turn signal switch. There is also a blunt-ended plunger item that engages with the lock plate when the ign switch is moved ot the "lock" position. It can slide out. With the plunger removed, nothing locks the steering wheel any more.

IF you reinstall the lock plate is your determination. It was not in the mix before the steering wheel locks appeared.

Just some thoughts,
FS87LT