1955 F100. The truck I bought had no keys. I bought new door locks, new ignition switch and lock cylinder. Problem is I can't figure out how the ignition lock cyl goes in and stays in. I can get it in to work the switch but the key and lock cyl comes back out.

 

Ok, I looked at Mid-fifties install instructions. Put the lock cyl in at the 1oclock position, turn it to 12 o clock and the pin should move up into a slot to lock the cylinder in place. Except the pin is not even close to being able to go into the slot. Wonder if I got crap parts. I'm really irritated that it's all made in China. I wouldn't of bought them if I knew this.

 

After looking I think the pin that locks it in is too short. I guess I'll be machining one tomorrow.
Ask before buying from Dennis carpenter if you want made in America, otherwise it's China crap. Bear with me as I'm highly P'd off.



After more looking the machine work is very poor. The lock cylinder fit is very loose. I have work to do to make these "new" parts work correctly.

 

Unfortunately, most of our parts are now made in China.
The vendors get their stock from pretty much the same place.
I have seen in the MidFifty catalog before, basically them saying. "We will sell this one to you, but it's crap. You need to buy this one. It's more expensive, but it's not that cheap crap."

 

Had the same problem with mine. However, my pin looked too short to come up in the slot but the problem was that the slot was just too small for the pin to fit completely. Enlarged the slot ever so slightly and the pin popped right up. Might check that before machining another pin.

 

Have the original locks re keyed or get keys made from the lock numbers. The only replacement for worn out original parts are NOS parts. Sadly overseas parts are 90% of what is out there.