Ignition switch question/Typical Sunday here

[Jeff Ivan]

Last Sunday, I took my 1951 Plymouth Cranbrook for it's last ride of the season before going thru my winter storage routine. After getting into it outside the local hardware store, I tried to put the key into the ignition switch. The switch disappeared inside the dashboard. I reached under the dash and held the switch in place so the key would go in all the way. So my stupid question here is : How is the switch mounted to the inside of the dash? Is it a threaded collar or a set screw? I could barely reach it to feel why it came loose, and when I got home I couldn't get my fat head and a flashlite under there that far to see anything. I briefly searched the factory service manual and did not find any info on removal/replacement. Do I have to disconnect the headlight switch and cigar lighter to remove the dash face plate? Just my luck that as soon as I get the engine running nearly perfect, something stupid and probably simple breaks. One other incident occurred Sunday: The temperarure here was an unbelievable 55 degrees F. I have never taken my '51 down our private road this late in the year before, and it is very rough this time of year. I drove it as slow and easy as was possible, but still I had to go a little faster than I wanted to keep momentum up so I would not get stuck. So of course I bottomed out a little (even after I boosted the rear air shocks up to 80 psi just for this ride!) and I ripped off the tailpipe. When I got home I had to lay in the mud to tie up the exhaust just to back it onto the cement slab to park it. Obviously I won't drive it until Springtime, but if there are any more warm weekends I would like to work on it a little bit. Oh yeah, my 15 mile cruise was still worth the hassles! =Jeff=

[Plymouthy Adams]

I am thinking you have a set screw on the bottom of the hole it slides into and accessable from below the dash..

[BobT-47P15]

Probably a set screw, probably not real convenient. Probably hafta stand on-a yer head to see under the dash.

[BobT-47P15]

Jeff....does your dash look like this? If so, I can see where the ignition switch is probably in an unhandy spot to get to. It's definitely easier on a P15.

[Young Ed]

Bob Thats a 51-52 dash alright. There are 4 screws in the corners and the whole thing will tip forward to be worked on.

[JerseyHarold]

There is a small bolt holding the ignition switch into the dash cluster at about the 6- o'clock position. I think it's a 5/16 or 3/8. If you can't get under there to look at what you're doing, you can remove the radio (or cover plate if no radio) and you'll have lots of room.

[Jeff Ivan]

Thanks, everyone. I'm not so sure there is enough slack on the wires if I remove the dash plate. I loosened it once when I first bought the car, to clean up the 50+ years of crud. Harold, removing the non-functioning radio for access seems like my mindset too. Also, how do you guys post photos with your replies? I'm not even sure this link will work? Let me know if this pic of my dash is visible to you guys. P.S. I got this pic from my photobucket account, I have not been there for a long time. FYI if you log in there and see an advertisement for the "Victoria's Secret" sleepware sale, click on it. You just might find a last minute Christmas gift for that special someone. But who needs an excuse, click it anyways!!

[JerseyHarold]

Jeff,

The radio comes out much easier than the instrument cluster. After removing the four mounting screws, there is a wire with an inline fuseholder (connected to the ignition switch...open it and pull the fuse)and the antenna wire (plugs in just like a modern car). The instrument cluster has the armored wire out to the horn relay, the pipe/hose for the oil guage, and the pipe for the temp guage, plus a lot more wires. I've been in and out of the dashboards a number of times!

It won't be too bad a repair once you get into it. Best wishes for the Holidays.

Harold

[Dennis Hemingway]

I see the photo.

Dennis