Ignition Switches

Why were the ignition switches changed
from 4 pin to 10 pin?
Did this coincide with adding a proper fuse panel in 1966?
Is the 10 pin Commando a better switch? Upgrade?
It sure looks better and more heavy duty.
The 4 pin looks like a farm tractor switch.

 

It was a " Pollock", OEM switch , Made in the USA , .......The only one available with OEM Jeep logo stamped , Briggs & Stratton Keys, in which are purdy much Un-Attainium . Years & dates of use could be found by researching some more, but It ain't no farm tractor switch, AFAIC. The "10 pin " is most likely a modern style switch, made by youknowwho , for more modern 'bell's & whistles' . like Anythin' , It depends on the application.

 

The 4 pin work fine for about any application. Any ignition switch is going to have a limited amp capacity and relays should be used off either the acc or ign poles for any high amp loads. Cole Hersee still makes a heavy duty 4 pole replacement switch.

 

No fuse panel in a '66, I don't think that happened till the mid 70's.

 

No proper fuse panel clear up through at least '71. Just the circuit breaker on the light switch and some inline fuses.

I think the 10 pin switch came about so it was easier to hook up additional items like electric wipers, heaters, backup lights, and other electric luxuries that were creeping in during the '60s. It may have heavier duty contacts to support the extra load, but I'm not sure about that.

 

I'm not a fan of Kaiser Willys, but here's a link to an NOS 4-pole Pollak ignition switch. The price isn't too bad, and it looks like the the keys are Briggs & Stratton (though not with the Jeep logo like the OEM keys had):

https://www.kaiserwillys.com/products/nos-ignition-switch-with-keys-fits-46-71-jeep-willys/


....and if you don't mind spending an additional $100 (!)...here's an NOS lock cylinder that would fit into the above switch, and comes with OEM Jeep-logo keys:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/296304718182?itmmeta=01HT8P0R0WKMHSBWVTZKST1KAD&hash=item44fd233166:g:d8kAAOSwsodipwdB&itmprp=enc:AQAJAAAA0JfvHRJ62fznOYykRWfIBhxqzL7c2RzM+7wYc09ULsXVQY76wHJdLWVVkcx2f+Cnqk7c8NuvDgjv+z6h7Q332/alwY9P3S2n/1w/CXsP2aScCvMeK+Vsd4q6lSO9vyQyrgBF+2FhB3g5ZGQi7vGHl9kxaKXeNERcFGuAP3QCNS4c4WTuhRSibxUrcpqLDPOxfG7PeQjweXoeGmU3GTd2fRfsDUquMNK2b9cmC8UpwYlCaYjE0XiGkCLH7/SjCURVjPcMOBW9KK6+qQIZW1IWt/E=|tkp:Bk9SR8KAg5bSYw