Re: Ignition switch rebuild

Posted by HH56 On 2013/7/16 11:14:26

There's not a lot of options for a real Packard item but I don't hold much hope for rebuilt units long term unless they are completely taken apart and new guts substituted. One of the vendors does offer rebuilds but after hearing of another posters recent experiences with one of those on a 55, not sure it is a wise investment. If a rebuilt is ordered and there is no evidence of it being taken apart at the crimp and reassembled then I'd be suspect of just how much was actually done to call it a rebuild.

A couple I've taken apart had a problem with the contacts getting pitted and very worn on one edge. Generally the contacts were in very rough condition. One had even overheated so the bakelite in the rotating section where the sliding contact is secured was charred and the plate was loose.

As Randy mentioned, If you attempt a rebuild yourself, IMO the crimp is going to be the hardest thing to deal with. You can gently work a section up at a time but the pot metal is very brittle and breaks easily. Just be patient and work slowly. Once you have a bit out of the way the back can usually be worked out and off. It might be possible to swap the guts from a similar size universal switch although the rotating part will be an issue and you will need to get creative. Packards lock cylinder engagement to the rotating contact doesn't mesh with the same geometry the universals I've played with do. I went the other way and adapted a universal switch to the V8 bezel. Made a small plate type adapter for the cylinder to turn the different style contact section. Not sure that method is an option on the 54 because of the way they mount in the dash.

If the rest of the switch is functional then as a temporary measure until you find a switch you could add a heavy starter type pushbutton under the dash edge to at least start the car. Kev mentioned a Ford switch and that might be a better option but with their slot mount method I think their bezel would also be needed.

Not really pertinent to your issue but offered as an observation. I'm trying to find a modern substitute switch for another car. Most ignition switches I've been looking at have fairly low current ratings even at 12v. 6v would be worse. With the failure rates of the 54-6 key start types in comparison to the older switches, I'm wondering if Packard severely overloaded them and didn't have time to realize it.