I just bought a 98 C 1500 parts truck. The column is all apart, and the lock cylinder is gone too. This came from a County Government, not a chop shop!
Is there a way to "defeat" the wiring to satisfy the needs of the electrical key that comes in these?
This is my first time with one of these, I've never seen so much wiring to an ignition switch!!!!! I don't want to put any money into another column, just to start the engine, but I want to hear it run before I dismantle the truck, and I'm too lazy to put my good column into it, and then remove it again!!
Thanks,
Mike

NEbody???

not sure about chevy but the ecm on a ford is one hot wire. Place a switch to send power to it and fuel pump and also a momentary switch to flip the solenoid to fire the starter. It will run fine, but the electric dash will need power and I have no clue if the power wire to the ecm will power it up or not. These trucks are quite a bit more complex with the anti lock brakes and all. Best way is probably to salvage parts from a yard

Go under the dash and puill the ignition switch module off of the top of the column (two small screws) and use a screwdriver to slide the switch assembly back and forth. This is the actual switch and the key is only attached with a rod down the length of the column. Had to do this on a trip when the linkage broke. EAsier than trying to get a wire in the right place. I imagine that the GM columns are all the same---I am betting that there were no major changes over the years.

Is this VATS where there is a resistor chip in the key? If so, you can either have the PCM re-programmed to eliminate it or you have to find the appropriate resistor value from the original key and hardwire that into the circuit. I believe there are 15 different resistor values used.

Here, this might help you. link (http://www.12vp.com/info_resistors.htm)

Thanks Greg, That was what I was looking for. Many Thanks