Dear V-8 Buick parts hounds, The ignition switch bezel nut on my trusty 1965 Buick Special wagon is a real hero. It survived a thief shoving in a Mopar ignition switch when the car was stolen in 1986. After we got the car back, it has faithfully held a GM ignition switch to this day. Alas, the poor thing definitely carries its battle scars: Would anyone have a spare bezel nut like this that they would be willing to part with? It most certainly doesn't have to be in pristine condition. Just something that doesn't look as battle-scarred as this old specimen. Thanks in advance for any and all leads! :TU: Cheers, Edouard :beer P.S. These nuts appear to have been used at least until 1967.
I've got one off my '67, but we couldn't figure how to get it off the ignition switch with out messing it up, if there's a trick to it let me know I'll pull mine off. (we ended just cutting around the dash and taking the whole thing off)
You have to pop off the chrome face that the key goes thru. Once that is popped off, then it will just unscrew. Yeah, fooled with that for awhile till I figured it out.
Well, in order to get the lock cylinder out, you take a paper clip and stick it in that little hole (my 64 only has one hole but the picture of his 65 shows two), and what you do is put the key in the ignition and rotate it all the way to the left, and then with the paper clip in that little hole you push the paper clip in while trying to rotate the key to the left (counter clock wise) to try to get the key to go horizontal in that direction, once that happens the lock cylinder with the key inside will come out as one unit and then you will be freed up to remove the ignition switch.
As I remember you need to remove the lock cylinder on some to get the bezel to unscrew all the way off. I have used a paper clip end in one of the two holes in the picture, with the key in the lock, cannot remember what position you put the key in but, push the end of the paper clip in the hole and you can turn the cylinder and it will pop out. Thanks
Thanks for looking and tips. (Re: WTB: "Gently used" ignition switch bezel nut) Dear V-8 Buick amateur locksmiths, Thanks eveybody for the info. Thanks especially to Ted and Bill for looking to see if you would have a nicer bezel than my beleaguered specimen. Do let me know if your respective searches turn up a candidate. I found the paperclip trick while researching all this. Honestly, I was still back at the problem of how to loosen the nut without completely defacing it. I knew there had to be some way to release the lock cylinder from the housing, but I too would have been completely bewildered once I released the bezel nut. Thanks guys! :TU: Cheers, Edouard :beer P.S. Anybody got a clever idea on how to get enough torque on that nut to initially loosen it without using a special tool?
Edouard, Success, found the part and removed it. How's $5 plus the ride sound? Overall it looks like it's pretty good, but you can see on the edge that contacts the dash there is a little scuffing. As far as the initial loosening I think Brian had the special tool you need, I don't remember. -Bill-
Sorry, Ted beat 'ya by about 1/2 hour (Re: ignition switch bezel nut) Hi Bill and V-8 Buick parts hounds, So sorry, but Ted Nagel got back to me about 1/2 hour earlier with photos of his bezel nut. It looks just fine so I snagged his. Sorry about that. Yours looks very nice too I confess. They were about equal. Hmm, I may need this tool. I've seen a tool for the GTO bezel but I'm not sure it will work on a Buick one. That tool doesn't seem to work on the Chevelle and the Buick seems to be a more elaborate version of the Chebby. Oh well, yet another problem! Thanks for you help!! :TU: Cheers, Edouard :beer
Not a problem, I've been meaning to take the ignition switch off the dash part anyways, finally motivated me to!
Hello, New to forum. Seems like Edouard has a located a bezel nut and Bill may still have one for sale. I am interested also in a nut if this is appropriate to enter that info here. Seems like you have achieved you objective and my entrance may make help Bill sell his part. If not reply and I will delete the message or moderator can remove it. Jere
Abigbird, just post a new message in the Parts Wanted section. I may have another bezel, I will have to look around though.
