keys for a 66
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Joined: Mar 2011
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From: killingworth ct
keys for a 66
I would like to know which keys to use for the door and for the ignition on a convertible, I am assuming the octogon shape is for the ignition and the round is for the door and the glove box, I am new to this as you can tell, thank you very much. Tom
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Northern MN
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15-'16-'17
Not sure on the convertible but the coupe uses the octagon for the door and ignition. The round one is for the glove box. At least that is the way mine is set up and was before I bought the car.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 9,016
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From: Southeast Missouri
I'm guessing someone has changed the ignition cylinder and key for your car, possibly with another year. Like I said, I'm guessing.
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Melting Slicks
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From: Columbia, SC
Tech Contributor
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From: Conroe Texas
Dave
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Northern MN
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15-'16-'17
You don't have to reverse engineer. All you do is take the key you are using to a locksmith. Have him cut a new key using the Octagon key in cutting the new key. Just make sure the Octagon key you are getting is a Briggs and Stratton key. Mine still has the GM logo on both keys. You may be able to find some original blanks on the internet. I thought I saw some on Ebay a while back.
Steve
Pro
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 622
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From: Clermont Florida
A good locksmith can tell, or has the information, to cut your key with a cutter, and not by copying your worn key on a grinder, like the hardware stores. He can then give you the key code to duplicate this. I have seen Chevrolet parts men do this just by looking at it, and my buddy, the locksmith, did it for me. I have seen others that did not have a clue. Check around for a smart one.
You can also remove the ignition tumbler very easily, and have it recoded to match the doors. This is very easy. Many lock shops also carry original blanks.
BTW, one of my Chevrolet service manuals has a section on doing just this, as do pages O-2&3&4 of the 63 Corvette service manual.
You can also remove the ignition tumbler very easily, and have it recoded to match the doors. This is very easy. Many lock shops also carry original blanks.
BTW, one of my Chevrolet service manuals has a section on doing just this, as do pages O-2&3&4 of the 63 Corvette service manual.
Last edited by landshark 454; Apr 8, 2011 at 10:38 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 196
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From: CA
'66 locks and keys
Also for '66, an original glove box lock will have the code number for the pear shaped key stamped into the lock core.
Of more than 100 spare tire locks I've examined, only about 5% have the code numbers stamped into the side of the lock core, so the spare tire lock is NOT helpful 95 times out of 100 for finding the code number stamped into the lock plug.
The code number can also be deciphered by reading the cuts on a key (by eye, or using a key cut gage) and then going to a code book or locksmith software to determine the code. Using the code books is a bit of a pain, since there are not sorted by cuts, they are sorted by key code. On average, it takes me about 20 minutes to find a specific sequence of key cuts in the code book. It's quicker, of course, if the specific cuts happen to be for a key near the starting code number of 8500; longer if the specific cuts are near 9499.
Gary
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
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From: Taylor Michigan
The doors, ignition and trunk are the same key 1953 to 1966 {B-10}....I have a decoder that can recognize the six OE cuts of a key if the key is not too badly worn. A Chevy dealer may have the same tools and could read your key cuts.... If they dont have the cutter any more I could cut the key if supplied with the code
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2009
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From: Simcoe Ontario
