Ignition actuator - any better way?

[Junkie]

It seems my truck has a broken ignition actuator. The key turns with no real resistance.

Has anyone tried any other methods aside from tearing the column apart to get to it? I'd be happy to relocate the ignition to somewhere else if it can be reasonably done, rather than spending significant time at a junkyard getting an actuator of questionable quality and then even more time installing it in mine.

If I should just do it right, are there any different kinds of actuator rods other than tilt vs fixed? I have a fixed column '73 C20, 350/350, column shift.

Thanks for any advise.

[Irish_Alley]

could be the switch could be the rod maybe even the cylinder. i wouldnt get them from a junkyard except the rod. you could rig up some toggle switches but this would make steeling your truck easy

[Junkie]

The key turns the cylinder far too easily. From what I've read it sounds like the rod is the most likely problem. Only reason I'm thinking junkyard is they don't appear to be available otherwise.

Right now I just have it hotwired under the hood, luckily it seems it failed in a way that left steering and shift lever unlocked.

[Irish_Alley]

the rod should effect the shifter or locking plate thats done by the cylinder. once my wife took my keys for my mud truck and i wanted to go mudding. i used super glue for the pin that locks the locking plate, ran a hot wire to the distributor and jump started the starter. worked good till my accelerator stuck wide open, i had to jump out of the truck in the mud hole water up to my hips and pop the hood then rip the hot wire off the battery.
you can feel on top of the steering column for the rod, the one i had brake on me years ago fell onto the floor. see if you can move the rod by hand

[roundhouse]

Now sure what year it changed.    But some rods push to activate the switches at the bottom of the Collum and some years pulled the rod

You just need two switches
One for the ign and a spring loaded one for the starter

Or just bend the rod where you can reach it and pull or push

Steering wheel still locks right ?

[Junkie]

Steering wheel is not locked. I've even driven it around a little to do errands (not too far as it isn't charging the way it's hotwired).

[Junkie]

I just took a look and I don't see anything moving on the bottom of the column when I turn the key. The small cover is off, don't know if anything else needs to be removed.

Turning the key takes way less effort than it should, too.

[Irish_Alley]

Its on the top side. Don't think you can really see it but you should feel the rod then farther down will be a plastic box

[Junkie]

How would I feel it? Where exactly? The column has hard plastic on it so I can't figure out where I'd feel it.

edit: and when I turn the key there's very little resistance. Way less than I'd expect. That's why I figured a broken actuator rather than the switch not working.

[Irish_Alley]

Under the dash you will find all sorts of wiring there will be a pigtail along with the headlight dimmer switch (depending on year) and the rod. If you take one hand and grab ahold of the column under the dash you should feel the rod moving

[Junkie]

I think I found it, a fairly small diameter rod. A little offset to the left. It doesn't budge when I turn the key.

[Irish_Alley]

Try moving it by hand to see if its broken. You can start the engine this way so make sure your not in gear.

[Junkie]

I can't get it to do anything. It's small enough that it'll wiggle back and forth a little (under 1/8" free play I think), but I can't get a good enough grip on it to push it down or pull it up. Which direction would turn it on? I put the key in and turned it, no motion that I could feel from that.

It's an auto rather than a manual, so it won't move.

[Irish_Alley]

it should go down but they are hard to move dont sweat it. i was thinking maybe if you could move it then it would point to a broke rod. since you cant move it your only choice is to take apart the steering column. but you could also have a (key on) hot wire go to a momentary switch then to the starter solenoid. this way you still can turn the truck of via key and you also cant start it without the key, just turn the key in on and hit the momentary switch to turn the starter

[Junkie]

I guess I'll head to the junkyard tomorrow. Is there any easier but somewhat destructive way of getting the rod out? I don't want to ruin stuff but not too concerned about junkyard trucks either.