Lost ignition key

[Roald P.]

Hello

I unfortunately lost all my keys this weekend including a key for my 1968 vette (ignition in instrumentpanel). I only got one key with the car when I bought it and have not had extras made

The ignition lock has been changed before and do not match my door locks anyway. So Im just going to install a new ignition lock, but how do I get the old ignition lock out when I do not have a key?

[William C.]

Re: Lost ignition key

Before you get to tearing out parts, do you have any of the original paperwork for the car? The key codes are on the invoice if you have it. Next, does the ignition key open any other locks on the car? The key code is generally stamped on the outside of the lock assembly if the ign key was also used for the rear compartment locks for example (I don't know) or for the spare tire lock, the key code could be obtained from those.

[Roald P.]

Re: Lost ignition key

Before you get to tearing out parts, do you have any of the original paperwork for the car? The key codes are on the invoice if you have it. Next, does the ignition key open any other locks on the car? The key code is generally stamped on the outside of the lock assembly if the ign key was also used for the rear compartment locks for example (I don't know) or for the spare tire lock, the key code could be obtained from those.

No, unfortunately I do not have any paperwork with the car and the ignition key only worked with the ignition

As I understand, normally you would put a straightened out paper clip into the small hole on the face of the cylinder and turn the turn the lock with the key to get the lock cylinder out.

Is it possible to force a screwdriver into the old ignition lock and turn it or will I probably destroy the whole assembly with this way?

[William C.]

Re: Lost ignition key

the use of the small hole requires the key to be in the ignition. I'd be calling a locksmith before using any screwdrivers.

[Roald P.]

Re: Lost ignition key

the use of the small hole requires the key to be in the ignition. I'd be calling a locksmith before using any screwdrivers.

Thanks for your reply.

No locksmiths overhere (Europe) can recode the ignition lock nor make replacement keys Found out when I tried to get the door locks matched to my ignition key.

[Steven B.]

Re: Lost ignition key

I don't know anything about '68's, but can the instrument panel be removed and then the lock removed?

[Paul J.]

Re: Lost ignition key

Roald;

Do you know anyone close by with a 68 like yours? If the lock tumblers are worn, you might be able to turn the lock with another 68 key. Jiggle it and slightly move it in and out, and what ever you do, do not break it off in the lock.

It's a long shot but worth trying.

We found a long time ago that 1990's vintage full size GM pickups had keys ground to similar contours, especially vehicles that were manufactured close together. I don't know how many times we've opened the door on another pickup with one our keys.

Paul

[William C.]

Re: Lost ignition key

If you can open the door and remove the door panel, that will allow access to the door lock housing, and if you get the numbers off it, one of the US lock and key NCRS members (Pat Kraus or Pete Lindahl) should be able to make a key here and send it to you. Pete is on the DB feequently, his contact info should be available from his profile.

[Roald P.]

Re: Lost ignition key

If you can open the door and remove the door panel, that will allow access to the door lock housing, and if you get the numbers off it, one of the US lock and key NCRS members (Pat Kraus or Pete Lindahl) should be able to make a key here and send it to you. Pete is on the DB feequently, his contact info should be available from his profile.

Thanks, but Bubba already been there, the doors and ignition does not use the same key

[Roald P.]

Re: Lost ignition key

Roald;

Do you know anyone close by with a 68 like yours? If the lock tumblers are worn, you might be able to turn the lock with another 68 key. Jiggle it and slightly move it in and out, and what ever you do, do not break it off in the lock.

It's a long shot but worth trying.

We found a long time ago that 1990's vintage full size GM pickups had keys ground to similar contours, especially vehicles that were manufactured close together. I don't know how many times we've opened the door on another pickup with one our keys.

Paul

I got two 68 corvettes so thats easy to tryout

[Jim S.]

Re: Lost ignition key

Here are the instructions for drilling out the lock cylinder. Since you are not concerned with matching keys, it won't hurt to install a new cylinder with a new set of keys.

http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/ignitionswitchreplacerev21my2009.pdf

Jim

[Roald P.]

Re: Lost ignition key

Here are the instructions for drilling out the lock cylinder. Since you are not concerned with matching keys, it won't hurt to install a new cylinder with a new set of keys.

http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/ignitionswitchreplacerev21my2009.pdf

Jim

Thanks alot

[Jack H.]

Re: Lost ignition key

I was surprised to find how many locksmiths there are in the Vail Valley. For grins one day I stopped by and asked how a resort town can support so MANY locksmiths. The answer was one I hadn't expected...

The locksmith said that because Vail was an international destination resort it could support quite a few locksmiths. He went on to say it was quite popular for visiting skiiers from Euope to come come in with a small 'suitcase' full of lock projects.

Apparently the civil and criminal code(s) in Europe that deal with overseeing the locksmith trade are MUCH more stringent and liability laden than we're accustomed to here in the States...

[Gary B.]

One other option; Tryout keys

Roald,

Another thing you can try is to find someone who has a set of tryout keys. I have a set of tryout keys for the Groove (Grv) 15 keyway was the used up thru 1966. The Grv 15 tryout keys are a set of 64 keys that have special fractional cuts, and the set of 64 keys is advertised as being able to open about 80% of all Grv 15 locks. The fractional cuts is the important feature of tryout keys and those special cuts are why 64 different keys are advertised as being able to open about 80% of the 1500 different Grv 15 coded locks. My success rate with my Grv 15 tryout keys is closer to 20%, rather than 80%, but maybe I've just been unlucky.

Someone suggested trying a regular key from another '68. The chances of that working are negligibly small.

For a 1968 ignition you should need a set of C keyway tryout keys, presuming that your replaced ignition lock cylinder uses the correct C keyway for '68. You need to confirm the keyway before trying to find someone with a set of tryout keys. Perhaps someone in the US can loan you a set of tryout keys to test. Once you get the lock cylinder out, the tumblers can be easily changed to match your doors. But like I said, first confirm that the ignition cylinder has the correct C keyway. It might be hard to find someone with the letter tryout keys, since each keyway should have its own set of tryout keys, which means 8 complete sets of tryout keys for the 8 letter keyways. Maybe some knows if there exists a set of universal trying keys that fits all of the letter keyways?

Gary