Ok I have a 1980 southwind class A motorhome that has a dodge 440, the ignition uses the upside down key from that era (dodge) I need to move it tomarrow. Can anyone tell me how to get the tumbler out or does it use a solenoid like a ford? I am going to have to hot wire it for sure and it is in a storage yard 15 miles from my tool box any ideas? Can I just heat across the starter solenoid and feed the coil some juice? I am kinda in a hurry as someone broke into it today and I want to get it out of there NOW but don't want to pay for a 32' tow bill!!!!!!!!!!!!

THANKS
GREG

 

oh and if I hot wire it will I have turn signals?

 

How about calling a locksmith.

 

Is that one of those with the ignition on the dash instead of the steering column? If so, why not slide your hand up and behind the ignition switch and unplug the connector from back of the switch? You should have enough slack to pull the connector and wires down where you can straight wire the switch...

 

no it is on the colum and if I take the tumbler to the locksmith it saves me $50

 

I don't think you can get the lock ouy of the column without the key in it
Clark

 

Does that mean that its a locking column , if not run a hot wire batt. to coil wire pos. but go upstream becouse they use a resitor from the ignition switch, then the starter may or may not have the solnoid on it about that time they had one on the diverside wheelwell area that you could jumper the starter from.good luck.

 

Sure you can,

Ya jes' gotta use the "Boyz-in-da-hood" master key.


To me, it would be worth the $50 to have it done and over with, and not have to replace something that I tore up trying to do it myself.

 

Oh Shovelhead, are we the product of a misspent childhood
Clark

 

 

thanks but no boys in the hood for me thats why I am moving it back to my place!! I don't think the cloum locks at least I hope not, do dodge startes use the external solenoid??

 

I am back , you are about the year that they had a transsion for the solenoid to find out get to where you can see the starter and follow the large wire , if it goes to the battery with no stops or connections then the solenoid is on the starter connected to that large wire if not then the big wire from the starter will go to a box about 1inx2in usally on the divers side with other small wires also then a 2nd big wire on that box will then go to the battery pos. , to jumper the starter you would jump batt. pos. to one of the small wires at the solnoid witch ever you have, after you get the ignition jumped , pos to the ignition stays there until you want to turn eng. off , the pos to starter just touch until eng. starts, remember only 6 to 8 volts to coil or 12v to ing. wire before resistor.

 

cordless drill, 3/8" bit, drill straight into the keyhole and all the tumblers will fall out.......and off you go. All you have to do then is pull the steering wheel to replace the ignition which you can get from any local auto parts store.

 

Go with a locksmith. There are only a handful of master keys used in that chassis, and the locksmith will have it running in minutes. By the time you drill the tumbler, and fool around with pulling out the junk, then buy a new ignition switch, you will be in the thing over a hundred dollars.

 

Not even close to a hundred bucks if you drill it and do it yourself ---- around thirty bucks or less for the ignition, and a few minuites of your time, with a locksmith you will be in over a hundred bucks --- I used to be one.......... just my two cents.