Need help 87 Ram Charger Ignition Switch Removal?

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Treburkulosis

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So my dad is picking up a pretty clean 87 Ram Charger 318 2wd. Its a one owner, but has sat for about 11 years. The owner has miss placed the keys. He was reading that its not just a simple thing to fix. Does anyone know the exact steps it would take to replace it, so we can start trying to get it running. He doesn't want to call a lock smith.
 

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You can take off the steering wheel and remove anything in the way so you can access the lock cylinder as seen below.

You will need a new lock cylinder with a key to replace it with.

It would be far easier to call a locksmith and have them make a new key.


Snap2.jpg
 
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Treburkulosis

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The doors thankfully are unlocked. I cleaned out all of the trash in it. Our thought was maybe if we have to pop the door lock and take it and have a key made. Assuming its all one key.
 
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Treburkulosis

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You can take off the steering wheel and remove anything in the way so you can access the lock cylinder as seen below.

You will need a new lock cylinder with a key to replace it with.

It would be far easier to call a locksmith and have them make a new key.


View attachment 462866
He was looking at it to replace it, and its not like a standard cylinder lock. I havent had much time to really dig into literally he found out it was his yesterday and its getting picked up today.
 

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might be cheaper and easier to just replace all of the locks/ignition with a new lock/key set. I think it was about $50 for a set. last year I did both of my 72 and 73 D100 so its one key for doors and ignition. forgot the seller / shop where I ordered it but if interested, I will look in my shop for the receipt and let you know when I get home. I'll bet they make a ramcharger set to include the tailgate lock.
 
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Treburkulosis

Treburkulosis

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might be cheaper and easier to just replace all of the locks/ignition with a new lock/key set. I think it was about $50 for a set. last year I did both of my 72 and 73 D100 so its one key for doors and ignition. forgot the seller / shop where I ordered it but if interested, I will look in my shop for the receipt and let you know when I get home. I'll bet they make a ramcharger set to include the tailgate lock.
Yes, please if you get a chance to look at the price LMK thanks!
 

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I guess the rear lift gate uses an different 'rectangle' key and they dont have a full set for ramchargers.


but here's a separate lift gate mechanism. but wow, the price!


 
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Treburkulosis

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Oh wow thats expensive on the tail gate. It might be cheaper to just have a lock smith do it.
 

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Oh wow thats expensive on the tail gate. It might be cheaper to just have a lock smith do it.
problem with that is, I heard that the tailgate lock unit is a 'sealed' unit and is not able to be re-keyed. now if the lock smith can make a key to the already in place tumblers, then that would work.
 
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problem with that is, I heard that the tailgate lock unit is a 'sealed' unit and is not able to be re-keyed. now if the lock smith can make a key to the already in place tumblers, then that would work.
I hope so. Thanks for all of your help!
 

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there i as a key code stamped on the tailgate lock that a locksmith should be to make a key using. i would also pull the door locks and see if you can get a key made based off them and hope it matches the ignition.
 
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Treburkulosis

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there i as a key code stamped on the tailgate lock that a locksmith should be to make a key using. i would also pull the door locks and see if you can get a key made based off them and hope it matches the ignition.
Awesome! Thank you for the info!
 

crazzywolfie

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no problem. you should also be spraying the locks down with some penitrating oil to make sure the pins get lubricated. there is a possibility some may be sticking.
 
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Treburkulosis

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no problem. you should also be spraying the locks down with some penitrating oil to make sure the pins get lubricated. there is a possibility some may be sticking.
True. The drivers door isn't latching. I briefly tried messing with it before the wrecker got there.
 

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if the drivers door isn't latching i would consider pulling the latch assembly out and soak it in a bucket of parts cleaner. you could try hosing it down with penetration oil also but cleaning work better. the newer style latches were definitely not as good as the older style ones.
 
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Treburkulosis

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if the drivers door isn't latching i would consider pulling the latch assembly out and soak it in a bucket of parts cleaner. you could try hosing it down with penetration oil also but cleaning work better. the newer style latches were definitely not as good as the older style ones.
It is definitely catching. I will have him pull it and soak it.
 
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