Can we do this easily on our cars? I know it'* not too expensive, and more switches are always better.... Maybe a switch start like NASCAR or a push button.

Anyone else interested?

I had to do this on an old cutlass I had (Lost the key). It ain't hard, but not so good for security....

Yes, I think you just need to cut into the yellow wire from the switch (or purple, on older cars); remote-starter kits do the same thing.

'course, you still need a key in the ignition to complete the VATS circuit or whatever other antitheft systems are in place, so pushing that big red button you install isn't really saving you much labor.

(Yes, the action of pushing it is fun anyway; my grandpa'* old car had one like that, right from the factory... )

Well how would you do it? An on/off switch, and how would you do the keys? I assume i'd still need the keys in for the vats, i don't want it easy for anyone. Or would a switch for run, and one for start be better? Or a swith with 3 spots, Off, run start,push it to the top to start and then put it in the middle....

Yea that would be kinda cool.....
Like if you put your key in the ignition... turned it to ON... and then pushed the button.
It'* like arming and firing a missle of sorts... hehe... it'* more work to start the car... but it might be kinda fun.

Yeah definetly!

When I hooked up the Cutlass, I completely removed the key from the equation. I just had a switch and a button. Luckily, it was such a POS, no one would want to steal it...

Um... just because the ignition switch only has about three detents on it forward of the Lock position (Unlock, Run and Start) doesn't mean it hasn't got a whole bunch of internal switching tied to it. If you move it _slowly_ towards the Start position you should see at least one additional midpoint where it activates warning lights for bulb proveout and also, just before triggering the starter, kills power to some other circuits (e.g. blower, I think) in order to divert maximum power to starter cranking. (This is more obvious on older cars than newer ones, I think.)

So what I'm getting at here is that I think I'd leave the ignition switch where it is and just hook up your Big Red Button to the Light Yellow (I think it is) wire emerging under the dash, which is the starter crank wire. This is similar to what remote starters do anyway. The power injected into the Light Yellow wire when the remote starter cranks the engine is coming from one of the two large red wires feeding into the ignition switch.

Bottom line is, yes, you can install a Big Red Button for starter cranking if you want, but (1) check your wiring connections _very_ carefully when you do this (installing a remote starter can give you a really useful education in how the Bonneville is started via the switch, and how the VATS circuit or other factory antitheft systems interact with it) and (2) leave the ignition switch untouched otherwise, so that the key is required when starting the car.

If this doesn't work, and my chilton'* isn't enough help, willwren'* getting a call tomorrow!