Went out to take the '79 for a test ride this am. When I got home turned it off then decided to adjust the idle on the new carb I put on yesterday. So I put the key back in turned it to crank it but it jammed at the run position would not move from there. I have only had the car about a week and a half and the switch has been temperamental but usually just a little wobbling of it would free it up. I don't want to put to much force on it I am afraid I will mess something else up. Any suggestions and how hard is it to swap out? I got lucky I was in my carport when it jammed.

 

From your description your problem could either be the ignition lock cylinder (located in the steering column head) is jammed and won't rotate, or the ignition switch (located down under the dash and mounted on top of the steering column jacket) is jammed and won't let you rotate your ignition key in the lock cylinder.

However, since you indicated that in the past you got the lock cylinder to rotate by wiggling the key, I am going to guess that it is the lock cylinder that is jammed and probably needs to be replaced.

Also, you didn't mention what type of steering column that you have. I am going to guess that it is a T&T column because most 1979 Vettes had T&T columns back in that time.

One last fact: During the 1979 model year, the system to retain the ignition lock cylinder was changed. The early 1979 lock cylinders were retained in the steering column head by a spring loaded metal tab. Later in the 1979 model year, the lock cylinder was retained by a cross bolt passing through a notch in the lock cylinder.


Here are directions for replacing the ignition lock cylinder on a T&T steering column.
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...ev13my2010.pdf

Here are some drawings to help explain the procedure.
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...ev02oc2010.pdf

Jim

 

Thanks Jim. After starting this thread I did a Google search and found your docs and pdfs (good stuff) I don't have a wheel puller but, got it stripped down to the point where I need one. I have a friend at work that has one I can borrow. I figure while I am in there I will replace the turn signal switch too. The one that is in there now works but doesn't lock down on left turns. I am sure I will be back with more questions on this. Thanks again.

BTW it is a T&T column.

 

I ended up getting a friend to help me deal with this had the late key lock cylinder. When dealing with the new turn signal switch we ran into a problem it seems like either the Turn Signal Switch Arm or the piece that attaches to the Lever itself is wore out. From looking at pics of the Turn Signal Switch Arm on Ecklers website mine looks slightly different. The gap in the bottom of the "V" looks wider on mine. Anyway I am open for suggestions as I would like to get this fixed while I have the column apart. Take a look at the pics.

Mine:
[IMG][/IMG]

New:

 

After looking at Jim's pages it looks like maybe at one time the car had Cruise Control the lever has the bend in it. The plastic at the end is broken off and the tube is hollow. Would this cause the turn signal switch to be different?

 

The crossover arm connects the dimmer pivot to the turn signal switch. The switch doesn't know (or care) what type of lever (cruise or not; bent lever or not) is plugged into the dimmer pivot.

Some catalogues indicate a different turn signal switch for 1980-82. But I am quite sure that the only difference is that the 80-82 Vettes had cornering lights so the later switch had three additional wires (positions A, B, & C in the harmonica connector). You could use the later switch in earlier Vette T&T columns. The additional wires in the harmonica connector just didn't connect to anything in the earlier Vettes.

I really have no explanation as to why your crossover arm looks different from the catalogue picture.

Jim

 

The more we mess with this the more we are convinced that it may not be the original column. The inside of the turn signal/key section has some red on it and under the key area is showing red bleeding through from wear. This may have been done at the factory but who knows for sure. Inside of the section has the number 7830348 stamped on it. I had searched everywhere for some kind of reference of that number. No matter what we try still can not get the left turn to lock down.