OT- Replacing car keys

coshoo · Jun 25, 2016

I know this ain't tractors, but there's a lot of smart guys on here, so thought I'd run it by you.
Trying to get a '66 Olds Cutlass going, and the keys have been lost. I'm pretty sure the ignition and trunk keys were different. Both are locked, of course. Is there any way to get new keys if you don't have any numbers for the old ones? I know that you can get new ones from the VIN number now, but don't think they had capability that back then.
Thanks for any help you can give.

old · Jun 25, 2016

A good and note I say good lock smith can make them for you but it is not cheap to have it done

wilson ind · Jun 25, 2016

if you were close perhaps I could help. I have a can of keys from that era. I have found several that fit locks with lost keys.

Bob · Jun 25, 2016

My son, who's a GM dealership parts manager says if there's an OLD GM dealer in your area that's kept some of the old paper parts books and other old info around they could probably figure the key codes out for you.

He says that still happens from time to time.

wi11y · Jun 25, 2016

Contacting the police, they can open it with a "slim jim". Otherwise a locksmith will have the appropriate tools to open the vehicle. Another item is to give the locksmith the vin # and they can look up the original keyset.

Good luck and let us know how you make out.

rrman61 · Jun 25, 2016

Might be cheaper to just change the locks

Russ from MN · Jun 25, 2016

I asked a locksmith about that recently when I was getting a spare made for a motorcycle, I always get a spare made for everything we own. He said he would pick the one that's easiest to take apart, and then take it apart and make keys to fit it. Probably not cheap!

47fivewindow · Jun 25, 2016

Use a coat hanger to get in then open the inside of the door and remove the tumbler. If the glove box uses the same key as the trunk,good. If not remove the back seat and open the trunk from the inside. Take the two tumblers to a locksmith and he will be able to make keys.

504 · Jun 25, 2016

If you spend 150.00 on a locksmith(and you won t spend that much)it will be a lot cheaper than buying new locks. Call around.

Jon Hagen · Jun 25, 2016

A good lock smith should be able to make keys for $10-20 per lock, if you can remove the locks to take to him. I had door and ignition keys made for a little English Hillman car, seems to me he used Yamaha motorcycle key blanks. That same time, I had keys made for a Steiger tractor cab door lock. For that one he used a Mack truck key blank. He did this without tearing the locks apart, used a gadget that entered through the key hole.

wi11y · Jun 26, 2016

The last time I was locked out of a vehicle it only cost $20 to have a locksmith to come and open the vehicle. Granted that location is Ellsworth Maine and prices will vary.

Old weldor · Jun 26, 2016

Yes the ignition and trunk keys are different. You can take the back seat out and crawl in the trunk and open it. Remove the lock and ignition switch and take them to a locksmith.

1948CaseVAI · Jun 26, 2016

To open the lock once you can make and use a bump key. Pretty simple to do and you could do it more than once but it would be cumbersome and time-consuming.

If you want to make a key for a tumbler lock that you cannot disassemble you follow a process called impressioning. Get three or four key blanks, a small file and have patience.

There are videos of both processes if you google them. Your chances of success are directly related to the amount of patience you have, but both processes work.

jimg.allentown · Jun 27, 2016

In the 1960s, most GM lock cylinders had a code stamped into them. That code (4 digits) would be looked up in a book that the parts department had. That would reference the necessary cuts to make a replacement key. This required a special cutter that was also in the parts department.

The locks in that car were as follows:
Ignition and doors took a hex headed key.
Trunk and glove box took a round headed key.

As far as I know, there were no records kept of key codes by VIN. That did not start until the late 1970s. Also, some time in the 70s, they stopped putting the codes on the lock cylinders.

As I recall, those locks were fairly easy to pick. They were only 5 or 6 tumblers, and they did not have many of the "high security" features of later years. In that era, many just left their keys in the switch. Locks were only made to keep your friends out. That car was made before the big campaign on TV to "lock your car, take your keys." See how well brainwashing works???

OT- Replacing car keys

coshoo

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old

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wilson ind

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Bob

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wi11y

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rrman61

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Russ from MN

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47fivewindow

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504

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Jon Hagen

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wi11y

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Old weldor

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1948CaseVAI

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jimg.allentown

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