I need to know how to remove the key lock on the steering columb on my vette. it has the tilt/telescope wheel, and I recently lost the keys to the car. I need to remove the lock so I can take it in and have a key cut for it. Any help would be appreciated

 

You have to take apart the upper parts of the column in this general order: remove horn button;horn contact;tele locking ring;steering wheel and hub;white plastic retainer;c-clip and locking plate; and turn signal contacts. Then you use a small flat screwdriver and push it in the hole that is shown in the service manual, the key must be in it to remove the switch. If you don't have a manual, shine a flashlight into the steering column right above where the ignition switch is and turn the key back and forth until you see something moving in the tiny hole that you must place the screw driver. Once you find the hole, it will take a moment or two to jiggle the whole switch out. Sounds hard, but it is not. Biggest pain is pressing the locking plate down far enough to get the c-clip back on.

 

I think you would be better off paying a locksmith to come to your car. I bought a theft recovered 78 once and had to replace a bunch of parts in the steering column, It was a mess and the manuals froget to show you some small pieces. But If I remember right, you should have the key to get the tumbler out. You can get it out without but its a bitch. Im no expert but I think you would save yourself some headaches if you had the locksmith come to you. Hope I could be of some help.

 

Here are your alternatives:

1). If your door key is the same as your steering column key. You can disassemble your door and remove the lock cylinder from the door. Take it to a locksmith and he can make new keys from the door cylinder.

2). You have to disassemble the steering column to the point where you can try and depress the locking wedge that is part of the cylinder. However, the lock cylinder has to be in RUN in order to be able to depress the wedge. Get a locksmith to pick the lock and get it into the RUN position. Once the lock cylinder is out of the column, possibly a locksmith can make new keys or rekey it.

3). Disassemble the steering column as above. Remove the chrome "wings" from the cylinder and then drill into the cylinder so that the guts are destroyed and the locking wedge will depress. Install a new lock cylinder with new keys.

4). I don't recommend this one but I have heard that it works. The good news is that you don't have to disassemble the steering column. However, you will need a new lock cylinder and keys. Get a slam puller and screw a self tapping screw into the lock cylider. Grip the screw and slam the cylinder out of the column. They tell me that this will break the locking wedge and the cylinder will come out of the column without destroying the column. Install a new lock cylinder with new keys.

 

PS I have complete instructions on disassembling the steering column. Go to: http://www.corvettefaq.com and look under Steering. There are complete instructions as well as pictures. Look up Standard Column or Tilt & Telescoping Column.