The original ignition switch on my '70 240Z steering column...behind the ignition key... is finally going bad. Symptoms are clicking at the solenoid, yet the starter tests out ok. I had this happen on my old 280Z in the 1980s...guess these switches go every decade or so.

The problem is that the 1970-78 replacement I bought from Beck Arnley (201-1174) is too large to fit into my 1970 240 housing. Even worse, Motorsport Auto and Black Dragon all list a single part# for '70-78. Guess us early '70 folks are getting ignored by the parts suppliers...again.

So my question is: does anyone have an early style ignition switch they would be willing to sell? Not the whole assembly, just the removable ignition switch...I don't want to have to rekey everything. Fingers crossed, as my car is disabled until I find one.

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Bryan Little
Datsunzgarage.com

1970 240Z - enhanced F54 L28 w/P90, Weber DCOEs, 4:11 R200, Nissan T5 5-speed

darn.. that sux...
another one of those things they improved..
if all else fails try recondition it yourself.. there not too complicated????

The housing is crimped and I just bent the edges and took it apart. Fat copper contacts on little rotating wheel. I cleaned them out but the body looks like it won't crimp back easily though, it's kind of messed up now.

Oh well, that's the price of R&D, hopefully I can find a replacement.

-Bryan

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Bryan Little
Datsunzgarage.com

1970 240Z - enhanced F54 L28 w/P90, Weber DCOEs, 4:11 R200, Nissan T5 5-speed

I see a couple old ones on ebay.

Worse case scenario, get a relay and push start button and wire in a starer/ignition kill switch somewhere hidden.

Aaaarrrggghh! I cannot bear to have your magnificent Z off the road.

I have the ignition switch from the Sep/71 Club partz car, and Chick's junkyard still has that Sep/71 there, too. I was on that car this week and noticed that the ignition switch is still intact and mounted on the column. I already took the clamshell off it for Mike Englehardt last year.

Frank

Not a catastrophe yet, I think I can epoxy the switch back together. But I 'would' like to have one in backup, Chicks or Frank willing.

BTW, I found some photos at a Datsun parts site and it looks like the 1st generation '70 Zs got the ignition switch used on the 2000 roadster. The site mentions that there were several variations even among the roadster versions.

So it looks like the only long-term good solution for us early '70 folks is to buy a new ignition lock assembly with the larger switch for $100.

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Bryan Little
Datsunzgarage.com

1970 240Z - enhanced F54 L28 w/P90, Weber DCOEs, 4:11 R200, Nissan T5 5-speed

But will that fit on the column, and inside the original clamshell?

That crossed my mind too. But since the later 240s seems to have gotten the bigger switch I think it should fit.

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Bryan Little
Datsunzgarage.com

1970 240Z - enhanced F54 L28 w/P90, Weber DCOEs, 4:11 R200, Nissan T5 5-speed

I put the repaired ignition switch back in today and it works fine. When I opened it the contacts were black and grungy. A good cleaning and lubing and it seems fine now. I used Gorilla Grip glue on the housing which is a urethane glue and it holds perfectly.

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Bryan Little
Datsunzgarage.com

1970 240Z - enhanced F54 L28 w/P90, Weber DCOEs, 4:11 R200, Nissan T5 5-speed