Stubborn spare tire lock removal

[Richard L.]

Re: Stubborn spare tire lock removal

When my 69 was restored, all of the locks were changed out (I discovered this when preparing for flight judging). They should have had A and B keys and did not. Every lock was wrong and I had to change out everything. So the locks could be the issue.

[Gary B.]

Stubborn spare tire lock removal

Richard,

I'm guessing you meant to say '67 for A and B keys. For a '69 the locks should have E and H keyways.

Gary

[Richard L.]

Re: Stubborn spare tire lock removal

My bad Gary. My 69 did have A and B and had to be changed out for the correct E and H. Sorry! So many issues with the 69, so little time...

[Peter L.]

Re: Locks & PV

Richard - In light of your experience with all the locks being changed to a different than original specific "letter" keyway some folks getting cars ready for PV are also finding that getting all new locks is not the answer because many if not all of the "plug & play" locks sets available now-a-days are "universal" keyway locks that will accepts any GM key (but will not operate it unless the key is cut for the tumblers). Unfortunately, on 67 and newer cars with the 2 different "letter" keys it's a failure if the incorrect key can go into the lock. On 66 and older cars if a "letter" key can go into the older locks that probably will result in a failure also. The bottom line is incorrect locks especially in a PV can translate into a lot of money and frustration. Pete

[Richard L.]

Re: Stubborn spare tire lock removal

Pete, I was able to get all of the correct locks for my 69. But it was expensive and it took a couple of tries to get them correct. Guess it is like anything else with NCRS, are the points worth the cost of the parts. In my case, originally the door and ignition locks were different (A and B), but incorrect. The rear compartment was on a different lock (that I did not even have the key for), and then the spare tire lock was yet another one. So I had 4 different locks, all of them problematic. My guess is that the restorer of my car got whatever new locks were the easiest to obtain. I really had to do something with the locks just for my own sanity. But perhaps others don't have a situation as terrible as mine was...

[Peter L.]

Re: Stubborn spare tire lock removal

Richard - Situations like that give "numbers matching" a whole new dimension but it's important that in addition to other components that the locks be correct and matching for the car's year if one plans to campaign the car in NCRS. Pete

[Patrick H.]

Re: Stubborn spare tire lock removal

FYI, I tried a variety of keys today.

The keys from the 70 Cutlass don't fit (J,K) and neither do the keys for the 71 Corvette (A,B). However, both the C and D keys from the yellow 72 fit into the lock (which belongs to the orange 72) just fine.

FYI the owner e-mailed me back and he does have another set of keys with him. I've asked him to check for a D code on the round one for me.

Patrick

[Gary B.]

Stubborn spare tire lock removal

FYI, I tried a variety of keys today.

The keys from the 70 Cutlass don't fit (J,K) and neither do the keys for the 71 Corvette (A,B). However, both the C and D keys from the yellow 72 fit into the lock (which belongs to the orange 72) just fine.

FYI the owner e-mailed me back and he does have another set of keys with him. I've asked him to check for a D code on the round one for me.

Patrick

Patrick,

It's nice to hear that the A,B,J,K keys don't insert. That confirms it's not a universal keyway. Regarding the C key that does insert, are you sure it's a C keyway key? There are some after-market keys that have numbers and letters on them that might make you think it's a certain keyway, when it's not.

Please keep us informed as you sort it out. It's a very interesting saga for the lock and key people.

Gary

[Patrick H.]

Re: Stubborn spare tire lock removal

Patrick,

It's nice to hear that the A,B,J,K keys don't insert. That confirms it's not a universal keyway. Regarding the C key that does insert, are you sure it's a C keyway key? There are some after-market keys that have numbers and letters on them that might make you think it's a certain keyway, when it's not.

Please keep us informed as you sort it out. It's a very interesting saga for the lock and key people.

Gary

Gary,

The C keyway from my 72 Bowtie car inserts, as does the C key that came with the offending car. One is an early November car, one early June. Absolutely positive that these are C keyways and I suspect that at least one of the keys is vintage 1972.

Patrick

[Gary B.]

Stubborn spare tire lock removal

Patrick,

Since both the C and D keys insert, but not other letter keys, you've got a lock and key situation there that I have never seen before. Interesting, to say the least.

Changing out the flakey lock core to one that accepts just the D key would obviously solve your problems. If the D key from the previous owner doesn't work the lock and if the lock can't be picked to remove the core (if the lock can't be opened using the correctly cut key, then it's likely it can't be picked either), then drilling out the old core is one solution that would definitely work.

Gary

[Gary B.]

PS to my last posting

Patrick,

If the key from the last person doesn't work, I would definitely have someone try and pick the lock before having it drilled. Sometimes one can learn a lot about the condition of the wafer tumblers by have a feel with a lock pick tool.

Gary

[Gary B.]

Re: Stubborn spare tire lock removal

Patrick,

Back a few days ago you said:

"Round key don't fit.
Tried it several times. Won't go in really at all."

What was different between now and then?

Gary

[Patrick H.]

Re: Stubborn spare tire lock removal

Patrick,

Back a few days ago you said:

"Round key don't fit.
Tried it several times. Won't go in really at all."

What was different between now and then?

Gary

Look back at the first posts.
https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showpost...unt=5&uid=3155
The round key is a hardware store replacement type. I have no clue what, if anything, it is supposed to fit.

The round keys that do fit are not the keys for this car. They don't work, but they fit.

Patrick