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I only have an ignition key for my 1971 but my goal is to have everything keyed as from the factory. What was the logic, I’m guessing alarm and door locks where a round key and the ignition was square?
I live in a small town so I’ll probably have to ship everything out for keying, can you recommend someone?
I only have an ignition key for my 1971 but my goal is to have everything keyed as from the factory. What was the logic, I’m guessing alarm and door locks where a round key and the ignition was square?
I live in a small town so I’ll probably have to ship everything out for keying, can you recommend someone?
Thanks in advance!
if factory alarm, switch on rear of body, 3 keys. Alarm key, door and ignition square key, oval key for storage compartment and spare tire.
Correction, 3rd alarm key was discontinued during 1970.
I do have the alarm, is the alarm key square or oval? Does it look like a Chevy key or generic key?
For 71 Corvettes there are only two different keys. The rectangular head key with the letter A keyway and the oval head key with the B keyway.
Rectangular head for the doors and ignition. Oval head for the rear storage compartment doors, alarm lock and the spare tire tub lock. These are GM “ Mark of Excellence” keys. Someone (
MelWff) mentioned above about a third key. Those were used on earlier ‘70 Corvettes with serial numbers up to about 12,250, and were a smaller round Briggs & Stratton Keys.)
I do not believe you'll find a natural secondary cylinder that will match the primary key shape. I don't believe GM ever used an "A" key code in the doors. It's possible you might be able to use some earlier cylinders to make it work
M
For 71 Corvettes there are only two different keys. The rectangular head key with the letter A keyway and the oval head key with the B keyway.
Rectangular head for the doors and ignition. Oval head for the rear storage compartment doors, alarm lock and the spare tire tub lock. These are GM “ Mark of Excellence” keys. Someone (
MelWff) mentioned above about a third key. Those were used on earlier ‘70 Corvettes with serial numbers up to about 12,250, and were a smaller round Briggs & Stratton Keys.)
This is absolutely correct… For 1971, two keys only. “A” key way is rectangular and operates ignition and doors. “B” key way is oval and operates the storage compartment lock, spare tire lock, and alarm if so equipped. The small Briggs & Stratton alarm key was discontinued during 1970 production.
Originally Posted by grumman41
I only have an ignition key for my 1971 but my goal is to have everything keyed as from the factory. What was the logic, I’m guessing alarm and door locks where a round key and the ignition was square?
Your key codes are stamped into the ignition cylinder and your storage compartment cylinder. This will be a four character alpha-numeric code that any competent locksmith can cut. Same goes for the door locks and spare tire lock… If you know the code, a locksmith can set them up correctly.
Ignition code
Storage lock code
I live in a small town so I’ll probably have to ship everything out for keying, can you recommend someone?
Whatever you do, don’t send it out to Jesser’s… They can do it, but at a ridiculous cost. PM me and I can point you towards someone more reasonable.
And the hardest part to find in that whole setup is the mounting plate shown middle left in your photo Ralph. Nobody seems to think that they are important, so they get tossed.
Most of the replies gave you the correct information about 1971 A & B keys and their usage. Keys for other years have different keyways, are stamped differently and probably not slide into your locks. See the pictures to see what original keys look like; set of J & K are for 1970 and C & D are for 1972.
If you have 1971 lock cylinders you can buy 1971 A & B GM uncut keys to duplicate. When you have A & B uncut keys you can inset them into your locks and if they slide in you will know if you have 1971 locks. Your existing ignition key should work on your doors.
You say you live in a small town which helps. You can take those uncut keys along with your existing keys to the local hardware store with a key machine; the kind that the guy locks your key and the uncut key in the machine to cut/duplicate your original. For your missing key, find a local lock smith, bring one of the B lock cylinders (glove, spare, alarm) and your B stamped GM keys and have him cut the keys. Everything I said works if you have 1971 lock cylinders in your car.
1971 key logic?
