key is stuck in the ignition. i'm able to turn it back past acc spot, but not far enough to remove key. any ideas? thanks

 

Amazing! I'll be watching this post withy great interest. Same thing with my '75 the other day after R&R rag joint to align flats on steering shaft and steering box. I was getting ready to post a similar question.
I can turn the key back to Acc. but only part way back to Lock.
Terry

 

Reverse Lockout not engaged completely, if it is dissconnected you still must have the column completely rotated to remove the key.
69VETT

 

Look inside the firewall area near the column and connected to the steering column is a lever connected to a steel cable leading to your transmission.... push that up or down and your key will come loss... have two people unless you want to run back and fourth

 

THAT'S WHY THESE FORUMS ROCK! that was it. the cotterpin was gone, and the cable was disconnected. key out. THANKS!

 

EXCELLENT I knew your issue because it happened to me too and someone else helped me out the same way... Yes this forum ROCKS!

 

Got my key out also. Many thanx to the3car for the original post and to 69Vett and luerja for the help.
Terry

 

The key to my 78 is stuck in the ignition also. I have an A/T. I am having problems finding the magical lever i need to help release the key. I have looked both inside the firewall and under the brake booster, but I cannot find it. Any photos or more help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

I am trying to find you a picture it's proving to be difficult. It is there i promise. It might be easier to jack the car up where you can safely go under it and look upwards. it is the first thing out of the firewall thats attached to the column and will be pointing towards the engine.

 

follow the steering column coming out of the firewall on the engine side,
there will be an arm/lever about 4" ? long very close to the firewall.
the cable moves the arm up and down to lock/unlock,
this movement transfers into a slight rotation of the column.
which locks/unlocks the key release part of the column.
your cable may be missing, if so the arm will have about 1/4" hole in it where the cable should attach.
Often people remove this and do not secure into the unlock position,
after it gets driven the vibrations allow the column to rotate,
and all of a sudden, you can't get your key out !

 

Here's a picture off of my '76... you can see that I have the cable disconnected from the bracket. I was in the process of removing the Steering column.

http://s189.photobucket.com/albums/z...withoneend.jpg

 

The cable lockout system was only used from 1969 through 1976. 1977 through 1982 used a small lever (called a finger inhibitor) right behind the ignition key/lock cylinder. You need to lift (or depress) the lever with your finger in order to rotate your ignition key from OFF to OFF-LOCK.

Just as a point of information. The ignition key sequence is as follows:
START, RUN, OFF, OFF-LOCK, & ACCESSORY.

You can always turn your engine off by rotating your ignition key CCW from RUN to OFF (but this position does not lock your steering wheel.)

With the 69-76 system you had to shift into REVERSE (manual shift) or into PARK (automatic trans) in order to rotate your ignition key further CCW from OFF to OFF-LOCK.

With the 77-82 system you have to actuate the finger inhibitor in order to be able to reach OFF-LOCK.

BTW, the earlier cable system (1969-76) locks the shifter as well as the steering wheel. The 1977-82 system only locks the steering wheel.

Hope that this helps,
Jim

 

I am really amazed at so much great info here about this topic. I have been a car guy and gearhead for almost 50 years and I can't believe I never knew about this. I have some experience with C1's and C4's but am still pretty new to the C3's.
Terry

 

Where the heck you been Jim... I have been waiting for you to chime in and correct my errors and bail me out of this

Jim Shea is your man....when he responds you better listen

Thanks Jim for chiming in!

 

Last week I was on the Norwegian Star, cruising to Alaska with family and friends.

Internet on the ship was like 40 cents per minute. So I took a break from the internet for a week.

Still a bit jet lagged (4 hours difference from Michigan to Alaska) but I'm back.

Jim

 

How do you take out the ignition from the steering column?

 

Point of information. Before 1969 all GM passenger cars had the ignition lock cylinder and the ignition switch mounted in the dash. Starting in 1969 the ignition lock cylinder was moved to the steering column head. The ignition switch was moved so that it was mounted on top of the steering column jacket down under the dash. More work to service it -- more difficult for a thief to steal.

If you want to replace the ignition lock cylinder you need to remove the steering wheel, the locking plate, and pull the turn signal switch far enough out of the steering column head so that you have access to a small tab that needs to be depressed. With the tab depressed, the lock cylinder should pull right out.

There are instructions posted at www.corvettefaq.com

Click on Jim Shea's Steering Papers

Click on Corvette Steering Papers

Scroll down to the type of steering column that you have in your car:

Scroll down to the Tilt & Telescoping Disassembly & Repair Section

or scroll down to the Standard (non-adjustable) D&R Section

Down load Paper #1 and Pic #1 for the appropriate steering column type.

You only need to beg, purchase, or borrow two special tools. You need a steering wheel hub puller. You also need the special lock plate compressor tool to be able to remove the locking plate.

Good luck,
Jim shea

 

Mine was getting stuck. I just disconnected the cable from the lever and tied the lever up with some wire.