I've got an '85 CJ-7 that's been sitting a while since I destroyed the axles and have been building new ones. In the middle there my Jeeps was at the old house where my father was living, and then it got moved to the new house. When I went to move it the keys were nowhere to be found. I had to disconnect the drag link and manually turn the wheels to get it on the trailer. Anyway, I've now got a jeep with no ignition key. What is the easiest/cheapest thing to do here?
Do I hire a locksmith to come out and somehow get the tumbler out and install a new one with new keys? Is that feasible?
Can I get that out myself without destroying the column by drilling it out or something? What size bit do I need to do that, and how far in do I drill?
Do I replace the whole column with one that has keys for the switch? I know where I can get a YJ column for $50, will that fit without major modifications?
Can I get out the tumbler and unlock the wheel and just put in a ignition button? I'm not adverse to doing that. Probably hide a power cutoff somewhere to disable the vehicle if I did that.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

dissasemble the upper column and replace the cylinder your self, get your self a lock plate tool. someone will let you borrow one, do not drill it.

It's easy. You can get a new lock cylinder at any parts store. Remove steering wheel. Buy/rent/make steering wheel lock plate tool(cost ~$15) Press down lock plate and remove c-clip. (There is a big spring behind it) then remove turn signal ring and you should have access to the lock cylinder spring clip hold it in remove that and slide in the new cylinder. Reassemble. Easy.
361517

Thanks for the help guys. I got it all done without the plate tool. Actually, it was harder pulling the steering wheel with a 3 jaw puller than the rest of it. Of course, Murphy's law also stepped in and since I finally did this after the jeep sat for several months, my dad called me the next day and ended up with the keys in his stuff when he moved to Ohio. :mad3: Oh well, now I've got a spare tumbler I guess.