Need to cut door keys
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,068
Likes: 1
From: Gig Harbor WA
Need to cut door keys
Hi all,
This car was a recovered stolen vehicle when I bought it, and I don't have door keys yet.
I have new cylinders to swap in with keys, but I think I was told new keys can be cut for the lock if you have the right blank.
I was told the blanks run A-k, But They Are ALL The Same.
Does anyone know if this is true that all of the key blanks are the same regardless of letter code?
Thanks
Evan
This car was a recovered stolen vehicle when I bought it, and I don't have door keys yet.
I have new cylinders to swap in with keys, but I think I was told new keys can be cut for the lock if you have the right blank.
I was told the blanks run A-k, But They Are ALL The Same.
Does anyone know if this is true that all of the key blanks are the same regardless of letter code?
Thanks
Evan
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 10,866
Likes: 717
From: Beverly Hills/Pine Ridge Florida
Re: Need to cut door keys (Evan Ginsberg)
They're not the same. The letter designation A to K designates the slot or groove in the keyway...where it's placed, how long and how deep it is. You cannot use an A key in a D keyway for example. Chuck
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,068
Likes: 1
From: Gig Harbor WA
Re: Need to cut door keys (Chuck Gongloff)
Chuck, are you sure they are different?
I was told by the guy at volunteer that even though the blanks are lettered differently they were all the same.
or maybe he said the same in a given year.
Obviously common sense would dictate that they used different blanks to keep cars from getting stolen, But I was surprised by what Vol's told me and wanted to confirm it.
Thanks
Evan
I was told by the guy at volunteer that even though the blanks are lettered differently they were all the same.
or maybe he said the same in a given year.
Obviously common sense would dictate that they used different blanks to keep cars from getting stolen, But I was surprised by what Vol's told me and wanted to confirm it.
Thanks
Evan
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 10,866
Likes: 717
From: Beverly Hills/Pine Ridge Florida
Re: Need to cut door keys (Evan Ginsberg)
Hi Evan. I'm 100% sure they're different. Here's the way it works...this is an example only, as I don't have my references here with me. Let's say that in 68, GM used an A square key for the ignition and a B round key for the glove box and spare tire. In 69, they used a C square and D round key, and so on. The keyway in the lock is different for each key. If you look at the longitudinal grooves on both sides of the key you will see that they are either placed differently, are longer/shorter, or are fatter/thinner. These grooves are designed to fit in a specific keyway. Try an experiment...try to put your round glove box key into the ignition....won't fit...won't go all the way in. Now, here's the wildcard....GM over the parts counter sold "universal keyway" locks, so that any lettered key would fit. That way GM would not have to stock hundreds of different lock sets. IF...your locks have been replaced with over the counter replacements, any key will fit. If your Corvette has original locks, that lock has a specific keyway, and only a key with that keyway will fit. Hope this helps. Chuck
