Just a quick question, how do you change the ignition lock cylinder on an 86 F150 swb 4x4 with tilt and cruise. I lost my stupid book (haynes).

 

buy a new stupid book

 

do you have the key to the lock you have now? if so its simple. un-hook the battery. take the covers off of the colum. put the key in the switch and turn to "on" on the under side of the colum there is a pin that hold the lock in place (its about a keys lenth from end of the lock where the key goes in). push that pin up into the column. once its pushed in pull out the lock. may take a bit but it will come out if the pin is pushed all the way in.

now if you have lost the key it will be even more fun. ok un-hook the battery. remove covers from the column, find an old screw driver and vice grips, and a hammer.. put the screw driver in the lock and hammer it in. lock on the screw driver with the vice grips and force it turn (breaking the tumblers inside the lock) if after serveral attemps of this yeilds nothing and your frustrated beyond all reason. take a drill and a 3/8" drill bit. mark the drill bit the same depth the key would go into the lock (so you dont over drill and mess up the other mechanism) drill out the tumblers (the key slot) to the depth of the key. now you will need a lil larger screw driver to stick in the nice hole and force it to turn to the "on". this is your goal once here follow the rest of the steps in the above paragraph for "if you have the key"

you can get a replacement lock from autozone for about $15 or so been a while since i bought one. or you can get a master set (includes ignition switch and 2 door locks) for about $60 or so. 60 bucks may sound like alot but having to only need 1 key for all locks is kinda nice. though i think on the 80s model the door key was different than the ignition switch anyway so all you would need is the ignition lock.

 

i have the old key and a new lock cylinder i'll get er done tomorrow. i am used to the 73-79 trucks they are easy to work on thinkin i will go back to them dont like newer trucks too many headaches

 

If the steering column doesn't have the plastic shroud around it, you will need to pull the steering wheel.

 

Right you are, FBII. My 1984 F250 has both a square-headed ignition key and a round-headed door key. Not real smart, IMHO, but that's what they did back then. At least the key goes into the doors and ignition either way and not in only 1 way like in GM trucks of that era.

Ed

 

I've got an 86 F150 with a tilt steering column that I replaced the ignition cylinder on its really easy since you've got the key.. there is actually a hole in the shroud under where the cylinder goes in all you have to do is put the key into the on position and shove a small hex key or awl up in the hole to depress the pin and the cylinder should slide right out. installation is the reverse =).. you don't even have to take any of the shrouds off the column. I hope that helps.. oh yeah unhooking the battery I forgot to do that but if I were to replace it again I would do that.

 

Good info, Carters86. I have an ignition switch that still works but needs to be replaced. The spring in it is about shot and it does not always fully return to the run position once the truck starts and I release it. I looked up the procedure for that in my Chilton manual and they show an 11-step procedure for it on page 8-22 that includes unbolting and lowering the steering column. When I saw all that rigamarole, I decided not to replace the switch. Will take another look at it now that you've posted on it.

Ed