I am having a difficult time with replacing my Ignition Switch. I had to remove the original, and then set about ordering a replacement online (AutoZone from eBay). What arrived (Part # LS478) would not fit in the plug of my original harness. The solenoid blade was horizontal vs. vertical, and the ACC and the GRD blades were too closely spaced compared to fit into the plug. I searched online and found another switch (Part # US-43) that appears to have the same blade configuration as my old unit, but it's listed for a 67 and "not compatible" for a 64. This could be true as the treading on the US-43 is much more shallow than on the original and LS478. If anyone has any experience with this and could point me in the direction of some solution, I would greatly appreciate it.
I should have one here for comparison. I also likely have an extra plug if you need it to switch the wires out.
Can you pull the female connectors outa the plug, and put some heat shrink on them individually and plug them in? Is the mounting bezel barrel length a problem? Bill in TR
Thanks. I'm looking into getting the 67 switch, or possibly breaking the tabs on the one I bought to see if it will fit then (I'm assuming that movement on the blades is an issue, hence the tabs). Anything you help to shed light on the problem would help. My bezel does have the lock position, which another member spoke about in a previous post.
Thats a good idea, and certainly worth a try. I think the barrel length is going to be a problem for the one that has the matching blades. I know OPG has a 64 replacement, but there are some issues with the key cylinder and no lock setting to match the 64 bezel.
Dear Special 4000 and V-8 Buick mid-60s fans, I had some trouble replacing the ignition switch and lock cylinder in my 1965 Buick Special wagon. I tried ordering the OPGI 1965 Skylark switch and that didn't work at all. Eventually, with some help from the OPGI guys, I found one from OPGI that did work but it ends up putting the key 180˚ from what was original. Here is the link to the OPGI website: https://www.opgi.com/skylark/CH20261/ It is the switch from 1964 so it should be just fine. It appears that contrary to OPGI records the ignition switches were the same in 1964 and 1965. Hope this is some help. Cheers, Edouard
Thanks Edouard, I had actually read the thread where you were researching a similar problem, and am very grateful you shared your experience and link to the OPGI part. My switch bezel is the type that has ACC-LOCK-OFF-ON-START, and I read that the OPGI switch omits the "LOCK" position so that the key position changes. Did you have that experience?
Oops, da' plot thickens . . (Re: 64 Special Ignition Starter Switch Enigma) Dear Special 4000, and mid-60s V-8 Buick fans, Oops, the ignition in my wagon doesn't have LOCK position, so no the OPGI switch I referenced won't work for you. Someone on the 65GS.com forum was having a similar problem and ultimately managed to find an NOS switch. I find all this really strange. It appears that OPGI has a switch that works on at least some 1965 Buicks listed for a 1964 Buick. While the switch they list for 1965 doesn't appear to work on any Buick. Don't these professionals have some period part interchange books so that they can get these details straight? Sorry, not sure what to say except to look for either an NOS or good condition used one. Edouard
Re: Oops, da' plot thickens . . (Re: 64 Special Ignition Starter Switch Enigma) Edouard, That's not an error on your part because I did not mention the bezel, and your suggestion did get me to look further into the OPGI switch. I agree with you that a large supplier of parts for restoration should have a means of documenting each of these variables that are discovered on forums. I think I have found a solution with the help of the friendly folks of O'reilley's in East L.A., of all places. They were able to locate a AC Delco unit that had the same blade configuration and lock cylinder neck. It was not cheap, almost twice the price of the OPGI unit; and I have no way of testing it to see if it will actually will work with my bezel, until I lock the key cylinder in place. I'm not done with the dash yet, and need a replacement for the lock nut. I will follow up and let you know what the result is.
Here is a photo of the new Delco Switch, and my original. It fits perfectly in the dash harness plug and threads correctly in the dash with the bezel and the nut. I just have to pull the trigger on installing the key cylinder to see if it has the "Off" position and all the selections line up with the bezel.
Harness same 1964-65 (Re: 64 Special Ignition Starter Switch Enigma) Dear Special 4000 and mid-60s Buick fans, Interesting. I have a photo I took of my original factory switch when I was getting help from OPGI: Sure looks to me like the pin positions are the same. However, I don't have that extra lock position. I never thought that getting an ignition switch for our cars could be so complicated! Hope this switch you've found works on your car! Cheers, Edouard
You may find the key cylinder may not fit. I just changed a ignition switch today in my 65. The switch I was swapping was out of a 1964 Special and the 1965 lock cylinder would turn and lock in.
OPGI has a working combo for 1965. (Re: 64 Special Ignition Starter Switch Enigma) Dear Brian and mid-60s V-8 Buick fans, I'm not sure it is of any great comfort, but OPGI has a working combination of reproduction ignition switch and lock cylinder for at least the 1965 Special. I'm fairly sure at this point that the Special and Skylark used the same ignition setup in 1965. I'd have to dig up the part numbers, but if you want a easy to purchase reproduction setup at least for 1965 there is a choice. Cheers, Edouard
