Dear followers of da' trusty wagon soap opera . . . . . Hey, I've solved the problem of my JW masterpiece assertive engine putting out too much torque. I don't have keys to put in the ignition - so no worries about torque no mo'!! ou: Fortunately, nothing that serious, but da' trusty wagon will need a new ignition switch and lock. So right now, I'm trying to figure out how the locks should work. Why you ask? Well, this car has had a separate key for the ignition from the doors. I thought this was normal, but actually this is a result of the car having been stolen in 1986 and a new ignition lock put in. That was so far back I had forgotten that before the theft, all this was worked with one key. However, that leaves another puzzle. In 1965, this car came with two keys that looked like this: I now realize that the octagon key should work the doors, tailgate (on a wagon anyway,) and ignition. However, this car came with two keys - why? I faintly recall my Dad saying that GM had a policy that you could lock the glove compartment separately from the rest of the car (and perhaps the trunk??) The idea was that even if someone broke into the car, they couldn't get into glove compartment without the second key. So is this correct? If not, what is that second key for!?!???? Any pearls of wisdom on this one would be appreciated!! :Smarty: Cheers, Edouard :beer P.S. Oh, I'm going to need a few more of these GM blanks. Any recommendations on where to buy them? P.P.S. Yeah, I could just make everything one key and forget about it. However, I had to replace the lock on the glove compartment two years ago. So by just having the new ignition recoded to the original door locks - I could restore this "factory" arrangement (if indeed it is.) Otherwise I need to modify two locks. If being lazy makes the car OEM, hey I can do lazy!! :Brow:
Those look like the same keys I have for my 66. The "flater" one matches the door locks and ignition. the "rounder" locks the glove box and opens the trunk. I'm not sure if they'd work on your wagon but I have all 4-door locks, trunk lock, ignition and I think the glove box lock from my parted out '67 and two keys (one for doors and start, one for trunk and glove box) available. Keys looks different than ones pictured, i think they were made up at Ace or something. (whoops mis-read that you were looking for just the key blanks!)
These guys would be a good place to start.. http://www.key-men.com/index.html And for more info on GM keys and locks.. Camaro based info, but most of it applies to all GM. http://www.camaros.org/keysandlocks.shtml I had no idea that Briggs and Stratton supplied virtually all GM locks and keys. Ya, the lawnmower engine company. JW
Correct, on all points, wagon works as stated, door-ignition-tail gate for the octagon and a separate rounded for the glove box. Cars are door-ignition, glove box-trunk. A side note, in 67 the keys on the Buicks I have had still look like the ones in your picture, but they are different and will not interchange. In 67 GM was changing to the square and round keys used for many years after 67, even used for the VATS system, early antitheft stuff before being retired. The mentioned later square and round keys will work in the 67s as they are the same pattern (A&B) and is about all you can find for replacements for the 67s. Mike
Thanks everybody!! (Re: Mid-60s GM key pairs) Howdy Bill, Jim, Mike, and V-8 Buick experts on da' darnest things!! Hurray, laziness wins one! Wow Jim!! That's a neat link! :TU: I knew Briggs and Stratton had something to do with the keys because it is stamped on the keys themselves. However, I never understood why. Thanks for the head's up. Jim's link explains all those details, but of course I might have missed it without your warning!! Thanks everybody!! Cheers, Edouard :beer
Got them on eBay. (Re: Mid-60s GM key pairs (and where to buy'em?)) Hi Steve and V-8 Buick amateur locksmiths, Thanks for the link. That's as good a place as any. Oddly the outfit that Jim mentioned: http://www.key-men.com/index.html didn't have the early to mid-60s key blanks when I looked. Perhaps just a temporary case of out-of-stock. I ended up buying the keys from a fellow specializing in muscle car and hot-rod keys on eBay: http://stores.ebay.com/hotrodlocksandkeys?_rdc=1 I bought one pair of NOS blanks to use for new masters and 3 reproductions to actually use. I had the keys cut at a local locksmith and my new ignition lock cylinder reprogrammed to match the doors. I'm really pleased with the results. The power tailgate window switch had been "apparently loose" and I was dreading having to replace that. However, it turns out the problem was merely worn keys. Having a locksmith cut the keys was very reasonable too. It only cost me $3.00 a key to have them expertly cut. So if you locks aren't working as well as you would like, consider just getting new keys cut. It might be a quick and inexpensive solution. Cheers, Edouard :beer
I'm happy you found replacements, and certainly glad that you didn't have to 'upgrade' to 80's keys!:TU:
