new ignition lock and housing not going together 1966 b-body, a/c car
 

Needed to replace the electrical side of my ignition due to wear. Ames no longer sells this item. Ebay on the other hand......

So I purchased what appears to be the exact copies of my old units. The electrical part connects with my harness (8-conn switch). The key cylinder lock identical.

Sadly I nor my favorite lock smith can get them together.

The metal cam on the lock wants to turn CCW, yet the electrical cam wants to turn CW.

Please tell me these are wrong items/item and what I am doing wrong.

TIA,

Ed S
1966 Bonneville conv with a/c (8 conn switch)

Doesn't the inner lock set spin either way (or actually spin 360°) when it is out of the shell as in photo three? The outer shells look identical also.

When you insert the key cylinder into an empty housing it will turn only one way, CCW and hit the stops about 300 degrees turn. With the electrical bits attached/installed they only turn CW which stops everything from turning. The electrical bits do not turn enough CW to catch the key at all.

My locksmith was completely flustered.

It maybe that I have a Chevy(shallow) key cylinder and not the Pontiac(deep dish). I have a replacement on order.

We'll see.


Ed S

So, be careful what you buy online. If they say it fits Pontiac make them prove it.

The pics below show the Chevy verses Pontiac key cylinder. Pontiac is longer and has a deep dish face. Pontiac keys look bigger too. Pontiac cylinder fits in all three correct housings. I owe my locksmith an apology.

Buyer beware. Online auctions are full of assumptions.