69'442

I pulled my ignition key lock out of the steering column on my 70. My door key doesn't match so I wanted to get it pinned to match. The locksmith said it is not the same key code as the door key so he could not do it. I know for 70 it should be J & K. None of my keys are original GM so I don't know what codes any of them are. Any way to tell and is this guy right?

CRUZN 66

For 1970 the key code information is as follows:

GM Code is "J" for Ignition & Door (Curtis Key Code is B46)

GM Code is "K" for Trunk & Glove Box (Curtis Key Code is B47)

This information is directly from a 1970 key code chart........

joe_padavano

The letter A through K should be stamped right on the head of the key, even chinesium aftermarket key blanks.

69'442

My trunk key has a K but my door and ignition keys are not marked. I was suprised the locksmith couldn't repin it. He said the door key looked like a J but he did not know the ignition key. So a lock can only be repinned to the same letter code?

joe_padavano

The letter refers to the configuration of the grooves on the sides of the key blank. Different letter codes have differently positioned slots and physically cannot be inserted into a non-matching lock cylinder. The lock can be pinned, but the wrong key blank can't be inserted.

Have you tried to slide a door key into the ignition lock, or vice-versa? That will tell you if the cylinders are configured for the same blanks. Note that some aftermarket lock cylinders are designed to accept ANY GM letter key blank, so you may also be in luck there. Otherwise, you'll need door and ignition cylinders that are configured for the same blanks.

brown7373

Most replacement lock sets are the same blanks for all years, so if yours have ever been replaced, it is likely that the blank letter designation will be different. For instance, Fusick sells one trunk lock for 1969-1977, even though each year had different blanks. My original ignition switch had been replaced, so to get down to 2 keys, I had to replace both the ignition and the 2 doors as a set. The trunk, console and glove box were all the same.

rcorrigan5

Back then, the key codes rotated every 4 years. '67 models used the A/B key combo, '68 the C/D, '69 the E/H, and '70 the J/K. In '71, they started the rotation all over again with the A/B combo, and so on. What probably happened in the past is that someone replaced your "J" ignition switch with an "A", "C" or "E" ignition switch.

Randy C.

MDchanic

The exact same ignition cylinder was used in EVERY GM car in that year, so it should be easy to find another one either on line or at the junkyard.

- Eric

joe_padavano

Here is an outstanding website about GM lock and key systems.

http://www.camaros.org/keysandlocks.shtml

Note that 1970, 74, 78, and 82 cars all used the J code ignition lock cylinder.

MDchanic

Nice, Joe. Very comprehensive.

Thanks!

- Eric

69'442

I found a guy online that will match my door key to a new ignition lock and make 2 spare GM keys for less than $30. All I had to do was send him a scan of my door key. We'll see how it works. Thanks for all the info.