In all the world, you might find 50 people who bought a Chevy Camaro brand new in 1972, and are still alive and driving it four decades later. Aside from those lucky few, most owners of vintage Camaros bought them third-hand or higher -- and any one of those previous owners might have a couple of spare keys to fit your car. That, among others, is perfectly good motivation for installing a new ignition cylinder in place of the original, even if the original still works. But be forewarned: this procedure might not be exactly what you're expecting.
Instructions
- 1
Pop the horn button off of the steering wheel to access the steering wheel retaining bolts below it. Remove the large, center nut that secures the wheel to the column, and then the three smaller bolts arranged around it. Place your steering-wheel puller over the column, and thread the puller's bolts down into the smaller bolt holes. Tighten the center bolt on the puller, and keep cranking until the wheel pops off.
2Turn the ignition key to the "lock" position, assuming it isn't already there. Look at the top of the steering column directly over the ignition lock; you'll see a small hole inside of a detente, and the ragged edges of casting flash around the hole. You'll need to use a large flathead screwdriver and a hammer to break this thin casting flash away. Lightly tap the screwdriver with a hammer to break the casting and expose the ignition lock release.
3Push down on the ignition lock's spring release with a smaller screwdriver and pull the lock out. To install the new lock, turn it so that it's at its "lock" position, and simply slide it in place of the old one. The spring lock that you just released will grab the lock cylinder and hold it in place. Reinstall the steering wheel, and torque the center nut to 35 foot-pounds. Tighten the perimeter bolts hand-tight, or to about 10 foot-pounds.
