Hi, I went to a local, national chain store type of Mart today. I don't want to mention any names. I went and asked about making some keys for 1970 olds and they said no prob. Well, you guessed it, nothing matched.
They called the car "ancient".
Any suggentions? I really feel better with some extra keys.
BQ

 

I would recommend going to a Locksmith..... It shouldn't cost all that much to copy a set of keys, and they most likely have better equipment then your local chain stores, especially when it comes to older type locks and keys..........

 

Try a local locksmith or lock shop. They will have generic blanks if their stock selection is big. They should guarantee them to work. Also, Ace hardware often does well with selection of outdated stuff. FORGET big box stores - they usuually do not have the blanks.

OR

You can order some repro blanks from Fusick, or other Olds parts supplier. They will Have the GM logo and everything.
You will need to make sure the new blank has the same letter code as the key you are copying. If they sell you Chevy keys and they have a different letter, they wont work - been there done that. Just check before taking to a place to copy them. Often the shop who grinds them will not charge you as you supplied the blanks. I found that Home depot can do a good manual grind if you have the right blank. Of course, not all stores have the same equipment.
If you go this route, order more blanks than you need in case the grinder place screws up. Been there, drank that, too.....

 

Great.
Thanks.

 

You might also try your corner hardware store. I had keys made relatively recently for my '67 Delta at a local Ace hardware affiliate. They had blanks that would work. Cost me $1.00 each.

By the way, why are you afraid to mention the name of the "mart?" No harm will befall you if you reveal the true name, Mr. Phelps. Was it "K"-mart? "Wal"-mart? "Some other"-mart?

 

I think any x-mart would be out for getting keys for a 40 year old car!
Big box home improvement centers do not have them either - I tried.

Small shops like Ace, Do it Best, and Elliot's would be worth trying, as well as local lock shops.
Forget the little Kwicky-Mart though...

 

Funny you should mention keys for the 70.
I went in Fri. to my local Ace hardware store,
took them a minute or two to find and blow the
dust off the blanks, cut the ignition and trunk keys
for my 70, they were like $3.25.

 

I recently bought a GM key blank from Fusick ($4.50) and Lowes made the copy for free.

 

Some keys are still available at your GM dealers.

3694624- Octagon head (1935-1966). $3.51 GM list price
1154606- Square "E" key. $3.99 GM list price
1154607- Oval "H" key. $4.16 GM list price
1154608- Square "J" key. $3.99 GM list price
1154609- Oval "K" key. $2.95 GM list price
1154610- Square "A" key. $4.05 GM list price
1154611- Oval "B" key. $3.99 GM list price
1154604- Square "C" key. $3.51 GM list price
1154605- Oval "D" key. $3.51 GM list price

Sorry, 1967 (7033454, 703455) and 1968 (7034680, 7034702) owners. Original style keys from GM no longer available unless under a different p/n that I can find. You can still find them here and there on the secondary market or maybe use a square/oval set.

These should cover a wide range of column-ignition GM cars.

 

Good to know - Thanks!

- Eric

 

OK. thanks much.

 

GM started using the letter keys in 1967, and every year after that, the letter changed. They run a 4 year cycle starting in 1967 with the A key being the ignition, and the B key being the trunk. Then in 1968, it was C & D, 1969 it was E & H, 1970 it was J & K. Then the cycle repeated itself.

these years used the same key blanks....

1967 1971 1975 1979 1983 1984 1985 1986 A & B
1968 1972 1976 1980 C & D
1969 1973 1977 1981 E & H
1970 1974 1978 1982 J & K

Not all GM cars used the column ignition lock in 1967, 1968, & 1969, so those cars used the traditional GM Hex and Round head keys. All the rest were the larger rectangular head, and the similar trunk key with the slightly rounded head.

If you have your key numbers, then the best thing is to have the key cut by a locksmith by number. Every time that a key is reproduced, the replacement looses a little of the original detail. Once you get past the 3rd generation of key, it becomes a problem to get the key to work.

The original Hex and round head keys started in 1935, and that series ran till 1966, when the key way was modified to make the "wrong" key not fit into the lock cylinder. This was the beginning of trying to make the cars harder to steal.

 

1969 was the first year of the column ignition lock, so they would be square and oval.

 

Try searching eBay. I found two nice sets for my 1967 Olds.

http://www.ebay.ca/sch/i.html?rt=nc&...=p3286.c0.m282

 

hmm both my local home improvement stores had blanks (Home Dopey and Slowes) as well as my local Ace Hardware.

 

Updated information in key part # post above.

 

Hi,
I got them made at a local locksmith guy.
I had not thought of him and the guy at the auto shop reminded me about him.
It feels good to buy local!
Thanks.

 

I wondered what the 'letters' C & D on Teepo's keys was for. I didn't know there was a meaning for them, lol. Now I do! Interesting what I learn on here, lol.

 

If you get your locksmith guy to sell you the Strattec keys, they're the same as the GM keys. Because Strattec supplies many of them.

Here's a handy chartto help ID some keys. Your locksmith probably has the same one hangin' on his wall.

http://www.alsemexicana.com/strattec...ey%20Chart.pdf

 

Pretty much all key blanks carry a letter or number code that tells the locksmith which rack to pull the next blank off of (including housekeys, etc).
If you cut a key on the wrong blank, it won't fit into the lock.

- Eric

 

DAMNIT, so much for original, i have GM k key and Nation Key USA.
i get in the car the original way, i start the car the generic way. lol

 

I just had key copies made at the local Ace Hardware. They work great and it only cost a few dollars.

 

You don't say what year your car is. In some years, the trunk key opens the door, and the ignition key is different. Makes it so you need two keys to steal a locked car, or a big hammer and screwdriver...

 

its 1970
yep, 2 keys