1951 Ford ignition switch installation

5

51shoeboxer

Senior Member
The ignition switch on my 1951 Ford is held in place by spring pressure and a quarter-turn retainer. Compressing the spring is difficult. and the installation usually requires two persons: someone to push the switch enough to compress the spring, and someone to turn the quarter-turn retainer. After examining the switch and the under-dash surrounding, I came up with a tool that made the task a one-person job. The switch has a recess on the rear, among the four terminals. The recess is large enough to accept a 7/16-20 threaded rod. The tool I made consisted of a 12" threaded rod, a 7/16-20 nut, a washer, and a three-inch piece of tubing that fit over the threaded rod. The washer was between the nut and the tubing. I adjusted the nut so that the combined length of the rod-tubing tool just fit between the ignition switch and the under-dash firewall. Then, I adjusted the nut so that the tool put some pressure on the ignition switch, compressing the spring. In successive amounts, I changed the length of the tool by turning the nut. Eventually, the tool length was such that it completely compressed the spring. I then added the dash collar and the switch bezel, and finally turned the quarter-turn retainer. With the ignition switch thus installed, I removed the tool, added the four ignition leads, and started the car.
 
51shoeboxer said:
The ignition switch on my 1951 Ford is held in place by spring pressure and a quarter-turn retainer. Compressing the spring is difficult. and the installation usually requires two persons: someone to push the switch enough to compress the spring, and someone to turn the quarter-turn retainer. After examining the switch and the under-dash surrounding, I came up with a tool that made the task a one-person job. The switch has a recess on the rear, among the four terminals. The recess is large enough to accept a 7/16-20 threaded rod. The tool I made consisted of a 12" threaded rod, a 7/16-20 nut, a washer, and a three-inch piece of tubing that fit over the threaded rod. The washer was between the nut and the tubing. I adjusted the nut so that the combined length of the rod-tubing tool just fit between the ignition switch and the under-dash firewall. Then, I adjusted the nut so that the tool put some pressure on the ignition switch, compressing the spring. In successive amounts, I changed the length of the tool by turning the nut. Eventually, the tool length was such that it completely compressed the spring. I then added the dash collar and the switch bezel, and finally turned the quarter-turn retainer. With the ignition switch thus installed, I removed the tool, added the four ignition leads, and started the car.
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I recently had to install an ignition switch in my '51. I came across a tool from one of the suppliers, a small steel piece with tangs that engage the slots on retainer pieces. With one hand behind the dash,I pushed the ignition switch in against the spring, inserted the tool in the retainer notches, gave it a quarter turn,.....done.
 

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Some of the repop retainers don't have enough of a tab to hold the spring pressure so I had to add a little JB Weld to the tabs to make it hold.
 
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