Lost my trunk key, any suggestions.....
Jim
Jim
jtminor55
If you have the original lock try any other old Chevy key you have. I’ve opened a lot of doors and trunks with the old and worn GM keys. Used to have a key ring with lots of old keys, and could unlock a bunch of friends doors and lids in the old days, and even start them. It seems that in those times there was only so many lock combos, and once things get worn even the wrong key would work sometimes.
Buy some blank ones and take it to a good ol' key maker.
You would have to remove the lock, of course.
If you are locked out, then remove the backseat and try to unlock from there.
You would have to remove the lock, of course.
If you are locked out, then remove the backseat and try to unlock from there.
If it's original to the car the glove box lock should be the same, take that to a locksmith and have them make a key. You can get in the trunk by removing the back seat and punching out the cardboard and then crawling through.
Todd
Todd
I remember being at a weekend city park car show back-in the 80’s and someone locked their keys in the trunk of their 57 Chevy, they made an announcement and everyone with an old style GM key wondered over and tried their key until one of the fellow hot rodders got it to open with his key. Invite your friends over.
If the trunk key is different from the rest of the locks on the car, and you dont have the four digit code from the trunk lock, you may have to pull the back seat and get someone really small and skinny to crawl into the trunk to move the trunk lock locking plate so you can get the lock out. That or drill the lock which would be a shame to do.
Jeff has the right ideal had a '66 caprice with the same problem. A friend opened it with his '56 chevy key.
Later,
Kev
Later,
Kev
Jim...What locks does the key you have fit? As people have stated, originally ALL locks could be opened with the same key...However, it was common practice to have a dealer change the trunk and glove box to a different key/lock set for security reasons, when dropping the car off for service...Try the key that you do have on the glove box...If it doesn't work, that lock may very well take the same key as the trunk....That lock could then be taken to a locksmith to have a key made.Lost my trunk key, any suggestions.....Jim
try your other key while pressing down on the truck while turning that key. don't twist with to much force.
Some locksmiths have a tool that slides into the lock, and reads the tumblers.
They then cut a key to match.
A drive to their shop, or a call for a mobile guy??
They then cut a key to match.
A drive to their shop, or a call for a mobile guy??
I luckily have a local place (Old Car Parts) that specializes in old GM car parts, new or used. I've often taken a car over there and they have a file drawer full of old GM keys they let people search through. Just take the drawer out to the car and begin trying keys until one works.
So far I've always eventually found one that fits. Sometimes pretty quickly. There's only so many codes and combinations they can use. I too used to have a ring full of old Chevy keys, but darned if I know where it went to?
So far I've always eventually found one that fits. Sometimes pretty quickly. There's only so many codes and combinations they can use. I too used to have a ring full of old Chevy keys, but darned if I know where it went to?
Many, many years ago, when I was still driving my 55 (over 40 years ago) I spotted an identical 2 door sedan, Navajo Tan and India Ivory, sitting in a used car lot. I stopped and looked at it and on a whim took my keys out of my pocket and tried the door lock and it opened right up. Then I took a seat behind the wheel and inserted my ignition key and it worked also. I don't know the odds for that happening but that car was virtually a clone of the one I have. I've read that GM only had a few key combos back then. I had two sets of keys for my car and all of them are embossed "Briggs and Stratten". The ignition key is hex or octagon headed while the lock key is oval headed Are those OEM?
from 1935 -1966 there were only 64 combinations....here is a GM Master set of keys from a defunct dealer.....I Have had this set for years and years .... its a pain in the Azz but you go thru one key at a time till ya find the one you need....pull it off and have one made....then replace it in the correct order.....you can imagine not many regular folks got this set as it is easier than all heck to steal older cars with them.......most all OLDER keysmiths have a set like this,call around and see if you can locate a set.....easy peasy then !!!
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That key set is tremendous.I am going to have to keep my eye out for a set like that to add to my Curtiss key cutter stuff.
Dragsix,
i have seen them for sale from time to time on ebay.....last set was missing a few keys....but still sold for over 150 bucks.....years ago i had many many calls to open cars for people who locked keys in their cars... i used to advertise in a thrifty nickel like paper here.....and a few local junkyards bartered with me to open trunks for them,and unlocking ignition switches.....the set i have has been successfully used 100`s of times 😉🙃🙂
i have seen them for sale from time to time on ebay.....last set was missing a few keys....but still sold for over 150 bucks.....years ago i had many many calls to open cars for people who locked keys in their cars... i used to advertise in a thrifty nickel like paper here.....and a few local junkyards bartered with me to open trunks for them,and unlocking ignition switches.....the set i have has been successfully used 100`s of times 😉🙃🙂
That master set would not have the codes for each key stamped on them by any chance would they?
A friend of mine bought a master set of keys at a swap meet years ago. He used it to remove the ignition lock cyliinder on my '57 (lock changed but key had been lost) and rekey it to match the rest of the locks.
Didn't you buy some key cutting equipment and a key code book? I'll bet you could round up enough keys to make your own set. When you combine it with your key code book and a depth gauge for the pins, you could stamp them yourself. I don't know for sure, but I'll bet there are multiple codes that have the same cut.
You might want to check with some older junkyards in the area and see if they'll sell you a box full of old GM keys.
Didn't you buy some key cutting equipment and a key code book? I'll bet you could round up enough keys to make your own set. When you combine it with your key code book and a depth gauge for the pins, you could stamp them yourself. I don't know for sure, but I'll bet there are multiple codes that have the same cut.
You might want to check with some older junkyards in the area and see if they'll sell you a box full of old GM keys.
I did. I have the code cutter, the books, depth gauges, keys and I taught myself how to code cut keys. I also have a box of new pins although I don't know how to rekey a lock yet. Going to try to find a locksmith or a retired locksmith who can teach me how to do the job. I tried to change the code on a trunk lock for my son's car and totally messed it up. A master key set would be nice to have, and nice to bring to the nationals with me. There have been a couple of lock outs that I would have loved to have been able to help with.
BTW... yes i have seen 2 other sets like mine....GM master sets were Briggs and Stratten keys.....aftermarket sets were made by Curtis,and ILco.....and yes 64 keys to the set
I had a locksmith come to the house make an ignition key for my mustang years ago. It was amazing to see how easy and fast he made a key. He had a blank key filed to a knife edge, he would insert and turn back and forth then remove and file down where he saw indentations . It was matter of a few minutes and he was done!
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