Last week, while working on the "baby" LTD... the ignition cylinder froze, and would not turn... So I figured I would need to pull the cylinder, and put in a new one... So, when I tried to pull it... it would not come out of the column... Because the key would not turn enough to let me push the release button. Also, in the "off" position, the electrical circuits were on... Like it was in the "run" position... I figuired the shaft in the cylinder had broken. So I called a locksmith to come out to try to get the lock cylinder out... Well, he ended up having to drill it out. So after he got the cylinder out, he found the problem. Inside the column, there is a small gear that turns when you turn the key, moving a lever forward to engage the starter switch, unlock the column, and unlock the gear shift... (Sort of like a rack and pinion setup) Well, the gear was laying in the bottom of the column, busted in two... So it had fallen down and jammed the lock... Great... There are only TWO LTD's in the local yards... One is the Mercury version, the other is a 83 LTD... I was hoping one of them had a decent column in it. So yesterday, I went to the yard to get a new column. I was in luck, the Mercury was in great shape, with a really nice steering column... It even had the key in the lock. It also has something mine did not... Tilt and cruise. It is even the same color as my interior. The steering wheel is sort of beat up, but it is a leather steering wheel, and if I can't clean it up, there is a leather shop here that will recover it, and even dyes the leather to match your interior... I have seen his work, it is excellent. The locksmith is re-keying the new cylinder I bought so it matchs the rest of the locks.
So I started to pull the column... sufice it to say, I have a lot of new scars on my hands, and ended up hitting my thumb hard enough that I will probably lose that nail... Hard part was getting it unhooked under the hood.
I also got both of the outside mirrors, as mine are worn out and just bounce around when you hit bumps. and these are like new... So I got the column, all the column trim parts, and the two mirrors for $45.00.
All in all a good day at the yard... oh, and it was a nice 72 degrees, and not a cloud in the sky... I'm going back today to get the rest of the cruise setup, so after I get the column in, I can hook up the cruise.
Tom...
So I started to pull the column... sufice it to say, I have a lot of new scars on my hands, and ended up hitting my thumb hard enough that I will probably lose that nail... Hard part was getting it unhooked under the hood.
I also got both of the outside mirrors, as mine are worn out and just bounce around when you hit bumps. and these are like new... So I got the column, all the column trim parts, and the two mirrors for $45.00.
All in all a good day at the yard... oh, and it was a nice 72 degrees, and not a cloud in the sky... I'm going back today to get the rest of the cruise setup, so after I get the column in, I can hook up the cruise.
Tom...
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