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Old Mar 19, 2006 | 05:20 AM
  #1  
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Default 68 door lock cylinders .

Hi

When I bought my 68 about 5 years ago, there where no door lock keys ith it. When I tryed to remove the lock cylinders, they disintegrated to dust, completely unusebale. I found a reasonable one used, so took it apart , removed the 5 key plates , went to a lock smith just to find out that 68 keys are again unique. No way . I got fed up , also because this lock already started to produce this white powder inside ( cast corrosion ).

So I went ahead and ordered GM 74-90 locks with keys P/N DL-5.
After removing the stainless cover, the blank cylinder comes out and fits perfectly into the 68 outer shell lock and stainless push cover.

Of course, the end bit required modification, but this was rather easy.

I now have 2 brand new locks in the original 68 push button setup, completely unvisible from the outside and still have my original 68 cylinders which I possibly can get overhauled at a later date.
This is a chep mod taking some hours of fabing, but well worth the effort.

The next 2 pics show from left to right :

#1 , the outside shell of the 74 lock. ( removed and now scrap )
# 2, the complete 74 door lock cylinder
# 3, the 74 cylinder with the 68 end installed ( it is 90 degrees turned to the original end ( that is now cut off ) of the 74 cylinder.
# 4, the 68 blank cylinder , above the 68 lock housing and top the 68 stainless push button housing.
# 5, the old 68 cylinder assy, completely corroded inside , the end bit removed and installed to the 74 cylinder. ( it is only pressed into the 68 cylinder. )



This pics shows again from left to right

# 1, 74 cylinder inside the 68 lock housing and push button stainless housing with the 68 end installed .
# 2, 74 complete lock cylinder, new
# 3, 68 blank cylinder
# 4, the old U/S 68 lock cylinder assy, end removed .


This should make it again an 35 years +.

This summer, I can lock my doors and bad boys now have to cut my top open to get in.



Günther
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Old Mar 19, 2006 | 05:55 AM
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Nice work!
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Old Mar 19, 2006 | 08:40 AM
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Nice! Good info.
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Old Mar 19, 2006 | 11:13 AM
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Nice. Good to know there's an alternative in case my '68 locks go south.
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Old Mar 19, 2006 | 01:44 PM
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Outstanding work Gunther! Thanks for sharing this info with us. If my '68's lock cylinders turn to dust as yours did, I now know what to do!
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Old Mar 23, 2006 | 06:41 AM
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Great job! If your interested, a pair just popped up on ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Corve...QQcmdZViewItem
Bryan
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Old Mar 23, 2006 | 10:11 AM
  #7  
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There is a guy selling 68 locks on ebay from time to time. I ordered a set from him last year. I think it was about $150 for both doors and the ignition, keyed alike.

Regardless, Good work Gunther! Two sayings from my parts work well here: "Necessity is the mother of invention" "There's more than one way to skin a cat"
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Old Mar 23, 2006 | 10:28 AM
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Hi

Yes, I contacted Paragon for the rebuild service. About 25 USD each, but I am sure, the bare cylinder must be corrosion free. Myne on the car are not. All is diintegrating into white powder.
The once on E-bay are again without keys. May be rebuildable , may be not ? They will be at least 100 USD + taking the chance.
My locks are now like new, the cylinders definately are and I am happy as is.
From the outside and even, looking inside the door , you will not be able to see any difference. You must take the cylinder out of the housing to spot it.
Anyway, I promise I will tell a potential buyer, if I ever decide to sell my 68. Right now, I intend to keep it as long as there is fuel available.

Günther
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Old Apr 28, 2006 | 09:27 AM
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I fear that day may be approaching...gas going up 15-20 cents by tomorrow morning. store it until I get my bannanna powered 502 going.
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Old Feb 28, 2017 | 10:20 AM
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Default Gunther sent me his pics

And he said I could put them back in the thread. here they are:

I will be trying this so I asked him for the pictures. See pics below:

Thanks Gunther...

Originally Posted by WESCH
Hi

When I bought my 68 about 5 years ago, there where no door lock keys ith it. When I tryed to remove the lock cylinders, they disintegrated to dust, completely unusebale. I found a reasonable one used, so took it apart , removed the 5 key plates , went to a lock smith just to find out that 68 keys are again unique. No way . I got fed up , also because this lock already started to produce this white powder inside ( cast corrosion ).

So I went ahead and ordered GM 74-90 locks with keys P/N DL-5.
After removing the stainless cover, the blank cylinder comes out and fits perfectly into the 68 outer shell lock and stainless push cover.

Of course, the end bit required modification, but this was rather easy.

I now have 2 brand new locks in the original 68 push button setup, completely unvisible from the outside and still have my original 68 cylinders which I possibly can get overhauled at a later date.
This is a chep mod taking some hours of fabing, but well worth the effort.

The next 2 pics show from left to right :

#1 , the outside shell of the 74 lock. ( removed and now scrap )
# 2, the complete 74 door lock cylinder
# 3, the 74 cylinder with the 68 end installed ( it is 90 degrees turned to the original end ( that is now cut off ) of the 74 cylinder.
# 4, the 68 blank cylinder , above the 68 lock housing and top the 68 stainless push button housing.
# 5, the old 68 cylinder assy, completely corroded inside , the end bit removed and installed to the 74 cylinder. ( it is only pressed into the 68 cylinder. )




This pics shows again from left to right

# 1, 74 cylinder inside the 68 lock housing and push button stainless housing with the 68 end installed .
# 2, 74 complete lock cylinder, new
# 3, 68 blank cylinder
# 4, the old U/S 68 lock cylinder assy, end removed .


This should make it again an 35 years +.

This summer, I can lock my doors and bad boys now have to cut my top open to get in.



Günther
Attached Images    

Last edited by carriljc; Feb 28, 2017 at 10:31 AM.
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Old Nov 18, 2019 | 11:38 PM
  #11  
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Default Housing spring

Anyone know where I can source replacement housing springs?


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Old Nov 19, 2019 | 05:21 AM
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Housing springs...see other thread you posted in......Hemmings Catalog 1965 Chevy Truck buttons are identical (per locksmith).
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Old May 21, 2020 | 09:02 PM
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doorgunner
Are you saying that 1965 Chevy Truck doorlock pushbuttons are the same as 68 corvette doorlock pushbuttons?


Originally Posted by doorgunner
Housing springs...see other thread you posted in......Hemmings Catalog 1965 Chevy Truck buttons are identical (per locksmith).

Last edited by carriljc; May 21, 2020 at 09:02 PM.
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Old May 21, 2020 | 11:10 PM
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That's what the locksmith told me....mid '60s chevy trucks have the same assembly. I checked on the internet...some models had identical pudhbuttons/some models had identical assemblies including pushbuttons.




Last edited by doorgunner; Jan 11, 2026 at 12:03 PM.
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Old May 21, 2020 | 11:14 PM
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I'll try again...….

link: https://www.bing.com/images/search?q...tons&FORM=AWIR


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Old May 22, 2020 | 11:27 AM
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So....... that's a 65 chevy truck and you can just swap the "innards"?

My driver side is broken and I've been putting it off for years.... really the door locking lever (I believe it's called a "door lock pawl")broke off....

I wrote to Classic Industries and asked if they had some 65 chevy truck door lock assemblies...since I did not see them in their catalog. If they answer me, and they do, then I'll go eyeball them.

Last edited by carriljc; May 22, 2020 at 07:18 PM.
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Old Jan 11, 2026 | 11:50 AM
  #17  
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Default Thank you Gunther

This was a great help to me .

When I bought my 68 about 5 years ago, there where no door lock keys ith it. When I tryed to remove the lock cylinders, they disintegrated to dust, completely unusebale. I found a reasonable one used, so took it apart , removed the 5 key plates , went to a lock smith just to find out that 68 keys are again unique. No way . I got fed up , also because this lock already started to produce this white powder inside ( cast corrosion ).

So I went ahead and ordered GM 74-90 locks with keys P/N DL-5.
After removing the stainless cover, the blank cylinder comes out and fits perfectly into the 68 outer shell lock and stainless push cover.

Of course, the end bit required modification, but this was rather easy.

I now have 2 brand new locks in the original 68 push button setup, completely unvisible from the outside and still have my original 68 cylinders which I possibly can get overhauled at a later date.
This is a chep mod taking some hours of fabing, but well worth the effort.

The next 2 pics show from left to right :

#1 , the outside shell of the 74 lock. ( removed and now scrap )
# 2, the complete 74 door lock cylinder
# 3, the 74 cylinder with the 68 end installed ( it is 90 degrees turned to the original end ( that is now cut off ) of the 74 cylinder.
# 4, the 68 blank cylinder , above the 68 lock housing and top the 68 stainless push button housing.
# 5, the old 68 cylinder assy, completely corroded inside , the end bit removed and installed to the 74 cylinder. ( it is only pressed into the 68 cylinder. )



This pics shows again from left to right

# 1, 74 cylinder inside the 68 lock housing and push button stainless housing with the 68 end installed .
# 2, 74 complete lock cylinder, new
# 3, 68 blank cylinder
# 4, the old U/S 68 lock cylinder assy, end removed .


This should make it again an 35 years +.

This summer, I can lock my doors and bad boys now have to cut my top open to get in.



Günther[/QUOTE]
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To 68 door lock cylinders .

Old Jan 11, 2026 | 12:05 PM
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Ancient threads still give good results
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Old Jan 11, 2026 | 07:28 PM
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Dont know about 68 only keys though, i had mine rekeyed in 2015 when i did my 68 door mechanism how to thread with no issues. Ive been looking for what year Doorgunner had mentioned those innards were from. Glad that showed up again. Wish we had a 68 only sticky section
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Old Jan 12, 2026 | 11:50 AM
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People need to lubricate your exterior locks! The 68 owner's manual tells you to do this, if I remember correctly. Nobody does it and this is the end result. I always use a spray white multipurpose grease called WAG White Multipurpose Grease from State Industrial Products of Cleveland, Ohio. Hope that they are still around, since I have been retired since 2007 when they closed my automotive parts plant in Parma (Cleveland), Ohio. Lou.

Last edited by loup68; Jan 12, 2026 at 06:42 PM.
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