<VV> MISSING / WRONG KEYS

[Frank DuVal]

A locksmith should be able to change the tumblers in the door locks to 
match the ignition key, but:

1. Changing the tumblers in a door lock requires popping off the outer 
cover, the shinny stainless steel round part you see and put the key 
through. Usually you need to put a new stainless steel cover on to 
finish the job.

2. Changing the tumblers in the ignition lock to match the doors 
requires no extra parts, just the correct tumblers.

3. Did you lubricate the door locks? It could be that no one has used 
the key in so long they have frozen. It is a convertible! Many people 
never lock a convertible. My insurance company, back in 76, told me 
never to lock my convertible.

4. The door locks, if they never had their tumbles changed, should match 
the 4 digit code on the outer lock cylinder. You get this out of the 
door by removing the interior door panel and pulling the u shaped clip 
with Vise grips or Channellocks.

5. Compare the 4 digit code on the door locks to the code on the 
ignition cylinder.

6. You get the ignition cylinder out by inserting the key, turn CCW to 
ACC position, then insert a paper clip in the little hole, and continue 
to turn CCW.

7. It should be cheaper to get a key cut by code than changing the 
tumblers in either the door or ignition.

8. Not of use to you, Charlie, but changing the tumblers on FC door 
locks is easy! No damaging a cover to get them open. I've done several 
sets for club members.

Frank DuVal


On 12/28/2014 4:10 PM, Charlie via VirtualVairs wrote:
> Just curious but, in your experience, how much is "not that expensive" to
> compare with whatever quote I get?
>
> I bought a '65 convert and never put the top up for the first 3 months,
> until "California freezes over" or until I get caught in the rain and so
> never considered locking the doors.
>
> A week before Christmas it did rain, so I put the top up, and I figured I
> might as well lock the doors too.
>
> When I got back to my car, I discovered that the ignition key, nor the truck
> key, would unlock the doors!
> (It had never occurred to me to test the key in the door before I locked
> them all!)
>
> I then also discovered just how tight the windows were, and also discovered
> that the dipstick was now too brittle to bend, to use it to pop the lock
> buttons through that tight space between the door and quarter windows!
>
> The dipstick snapped off at the "full" line, and rendered it useless as
> either opening the door or as a dipstick any longer!
>
> I then discovered how hard it is to find a wire coat hanger, which took
> longer to find than to actually open the car when I finally did find one!
>
> So, short story made way too long, I'm now looking to find a matching set of
> keys and locks to replace them all, or if cheaper, get a locksmith to re-key
> the doors, to match the ignition?
>
> Thanks for listening ...
>
> Charlie
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> Subject: Re: <VV> MISSING KEYS
>
> Check with a AAA garage. We had a master set of @65 keys for early GM (now
> here in my shop , but they never leave here!)  You try them until one works
> , then cut a new one. The keys are numbered on a large chain. They have
> bailed  me out many times when I get a junker , or a dash unit.
> Or remove dash , and take to locksmith. If you have the lock in your hand ,
> most lock guys will fix you up quickly and not that expensive.
> Regards, Tim Colson
>
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