Ignition key door key

[Ironangel]

Originally Posted by Casper42

not here to argue with the apparent guru of keys and locks, but if the expert says they all came with ONE key and not two, then why do all the aftermarket suppliers say otherwise - one square key for the ignition "code C" and the other for the doors - a round key with "code D"?

My darn near original, unmolested '72 C10 has two keys - no reason to suggest any of the locks/ignition would have been swapped out. I don't have the OEM keys, so I went with Classic Industries and got the OEM looking keys, however the door key does not match the pattern to even fit. the key for the door lacks the longest groove at the top most portion of the key (bottom picture - right side), thus I am not certain which key would actually work. Based on visual comparison of "GM keys" online it seems that "code B" is the correct one for my doors.

(LEFT - old working key: RIGHT - new not working key)

I've had several keys made for my 72's that didnt work in the doors and or the ignition. I give them a once over with the bench wire wheel and they work! Once more, I can unlock or lock any door in either of my 72's or my two 71's with any key from either truck. One 72 will allow me to remove the key while the truck is running while none of them will allow a strange key to start the truck. I locked my keys in an 86 Blazer at a family reunion at a small town city park many years ago. I was frantic because I had to be at work the next morning many miles away. A state trooper came and tried for an hour with two different types of jimmy bars to no avail. A man came over and offered to use his keys to a 1968 El Camino and "Wahla" his key opened the door! I love the fact that you can't lock your keys in these trucks! One of GM's greatest ideas in my opinion!

[Casper42]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

"All" is a pretty strong word, and "all" of them don't say that. The below suppliers list 67-72 truck sets with one key for all locks
Your '72 would have came from the factory with all of the locks keyed to the "C" keyway and used the same key for all locks..... If your '72 GM truck uses two different keys then one or more of your locks have been changed at some point in it's life.

LockDoc

your post has incorrect info. You are linking to door "lock sets" NOT keys for instance in the LMC website. If you would go to keys, not lock sets, you'll see that LMC, NPD and Classic Industries "ALL" show the two different keys - round for door, and square for ignition.

Also, your statement of my "all" is no different than your statement that all 72's came with ONE key. I say this specifically as there is no evidence to support a reason my door locks or ignition switch were ever changed out...though I suppose it was possible for some odd reason, as it is a 50 year old truck

['68OrangeSunshine]

On three of my trucks, the Ignition and Door Lock key was the same.
'67 K/10 Suburban -- Key [originally octagonal] worked Ign, Doors and Tailgate.
'68 C/10 Stepside -- Key [also originally octagonal] Ign and Doors. Glovebox,
added later, was a different key.
'71 K/1500 GMC Jimmy -- Key works in Ign and Doors. Tailgate key was different.

Due to wear on daily drivers over decades, I've gone to the rectangular headed keys.

I've had the best re-key results from Home Depot's ''robot'' key copy machine. Worst results from ''helpful'' amatuers at Ace Hardware, who screwed it up 3 times in a row.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by Casper42

your post has incorrect info. You are linking to door "lock sets" NOT keys for instance in the LMC website. If you would go to keys, not lock sets, you'll see that LMC, NPD and Classic Industries "ALL" show the two different keys - round for door, and square for ignition.

Also, your statement of my "all" is no different than your statement that all 72's came with ONE key. I say this specifically as there is no evidence to support a reason my door locks or ignition switch were ever changed out...though I suppose it was possible for some odd reason, as it is a 50 year old truck

The only difference is that my "ALL" is true, and I have the Briggs & Stratton, GM lock and key books to prove it..

I have a good idea. You rely on a web site that has no idea what they are even selling (if you don't believe that call and ask them a question) and I'll rely on my 46 years of locksmith experience....

It's pretty obvious that you aren't going to believe me no matter what I say so this will be my last reply to you.

LockDoc

[FirstOwner69]

LockDoc is right.

In post 4 I said my '69 came with only one rectangular head key (actually 2 identical rectangular keys). I was surprised because all the GM cars I was familiar with different keys (actually 2 of each type). I am 100% sure since I bought the truck new. I even asked the dealer about it. He said that was the norm.

[Ironangel]

Originally Posted by Casper42

your post has incorrect info. You are linking to door "lock sets" NOT keys for instance in the LMC website. If you would go to keys, not lock sets, you'll see that LMC, NPD and Classic Industries "ALL" show the two different keys - round for door, and square for ignition.

Also, your statement of my "all" is no different than your statement that all 72's came with ONE key. I say this specifically as there is no evidence to support a reason my door locks or ignition switch were ever changed out...though I suppose it was possible for some odd reason, as it is a 50 year old truck

How long have you owned this truck? Perhaps a previous owner swapped in an ignition switch...?

[FirstOwner69]

I just noticed that I misspoke in post 30 when I described my keys as having hexagonal shaped heads. I have edited post 30 to say "rectangular". Sorry if that has caused any confusion.

[68 C10 Driver]

I am with LockDoc, my 68 only came with a single key that unlocks the doors and works the ignition switch. I remember this was common with GM vehicles. Having owned several 60s era GM vehicles this was common. In actuality, the key should also unlock the glove box as well (if equipped with a lock mechanism).

[gmc 2500 4x4]

Nice info

[Rust_never_sleeps]

Like many, my assumption was that all GM's have always had two keys.
This led to an impromptu Abbott and Costello routine via PM with the Doc about getting replacements for a key that never existed ;-)

[dmjlambert]

I think the assumption came from cars of the period may have had separate keys for door and ignition. I got my Mom's 70 Cutlass as a hand-me-down and it had the separate keys. I also remember to lock the door from the outside you could push the lock button down and then while holding the door handle button in while closing, it would lock.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by Rust_never_sleeps

Like many, my assumption was that all GM's have always had two keys.
This led to an impromptu Abbott and Costello routine via PM with the Doc about getting replacements for a key that never existed ;-)

... ...

Originally Posted by dmjlambert

I think the assumption came from cars of the period may have had separate keys for door and ignition. I got my Mom's 70 Cutlass as a hand-me-down and it had the separate keys. I also remember to lock the door from the outside you could push the lock button down and then while holding the door handle button in while closing, it would lock.

Yes, '67 and up the cars had two keys, Primary for the ignition and Secondary for the doors.... EDIT: This is wrong. I think 1960 or '61 was the year GM went to the two lock system on the cars. All of the locks still had the same key profile until '66, (Groove 15) but ignition/doors & trunk/glove were keyed different. Sorry about that....
.

[Carl Spangler]

For a 71 C10 did it come with a rectangular or small octagon key? I've seen posts indicating rectangular keys only came to the trucks in 73. The small octagon keys seem rare now.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by Carl Spangler

For a 71 C10 did it come with a rectangular or small octagon key? I've seen posts indicating rectangular keys only came to the trucks in 73. The small octagon keys seem rare now.

Rectangular for the '71's.

When GM started using the dished ignition switches it made the octagon keys hard to get a hold of to turn them. People started complaining about it so GM came out with the longer rectangular head keys. For the trucks that was in early '68, so all 67's had the octagon key, and some of the early '68's used them.

Yes, original "A" and "C" groove, octagon head key blanks with the knock-out feature for the code stamping are hard to find.
.

[Rich69shortfleet]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

Yes, '67 and up the cars had two keys, Primary for the ignition and Secondary for the doors.
.

This is confusing. I've had a number of old GM cars, which consisted of many 65s, a 64, a 67, a 70 and a 72. They ALL used the same key on the ignition and doors and the secondary key only worked on the trunk and the glovebox if the glovebox had a lock. Dad had a number of 60s and 70s GM cars and they were all the same. This covers Chevy, Olds, Pontiac and Buick.

[3757chevy]

LockDoc is the best. He's given me no reason to doubt him. I've owned 9 different 67-72 Chevy trucks and one key does it all. 67 Chevelle I had one key for doors and ignition another for the trunk.

[cj847]

This is another possible solution if you don't know the condition of your locks.

https://classicparts.com/1967-68-complete-lock-set

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by Rich69shortfleet

This is confusing. I've had a number of old GM cars, which consisted of many 65s, a 64, a 67, a 70 and a 72. They ALL used the same key on the ignition and doors and the secondary key only worked on the trunk and the glovebox if the glovebox had a lock. Dad had a number of 60s and 70s GM cars and they were all the same. This covers Chevy, Olds, Pontiac and Buick.

I had a brain fart on that one. I think the GM cars had the two lock system since about '60, or '61. I tried looking it up in my books but I couldn't find an exact year. They still had only one key profile (Groove 15) until '66, but the locks were keyed different. I will edit my post above to reflect that.

Thanks for jarring my brain to check on it.

[Rich69shortfleet]

Originally Posted by lockdoc

i had a brain fart on that one. I think the gm cars had the two lock system since about '60, or '61. I tried looking it up in my books but i couldn't find an exact year. They still had only one key profile (groove 15) until '66, but the locks were keyed different. I will edit my post above to reflect that.

Thanks for jarring my brain to check on it.

I was worried I was the one having the brain fart! But I still have a 64 (GTO) and 65 (Chevelle) around so I could double check myself.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by Rich69shortfleet

I was worried I was the one having the brain fart! But I still have a 64 (GTO) and 65 (Chevelle) around so I could double check myself.

The older I get the more of them I seem to have. What was my name again?...

['68OrangeSunshine]

I was surprized to find the Door Key for my '67 K/10 Suburban actually unlocked the back barn door on my '03 Tahoe. [ Even though the 21st Century keys have teeth on both edges.]
Also I was able to remove the '03 's Ignition key from the lock while it was running. I know I can pull out the keys from the running Igns of both my '71 GMC Jimmy and '68 C/10, but I thought that was due to wear.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

I was surprized to find the Door Key for my '67 K/10 Suburban actually unlocked the back barn door on my '03 Tahoe. [ Even though the 21st Century keys have teeth on both edges.]
Also I was able to remove the '03 's Ignition key from the lock while it was running. I know I can pull out the keys from the running Igns of both my '71 GMC Jimmy and '68 C/10, but I thought that was due to wear.

That usually involves wear, not only to the key but also the tumblers in the lock cylinder. The cuts in the key can also play a part in that problem. Technically the keys should not come out in the run position.

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

That usually involves wear, not only to the key but also the tumblers in the lock cylinder. The cuts in the key can also play a part in that problem. Technically the keys should not come out in the run position.

There are 297,000 miles on this Tahoe. [For a list of its many gripes and gremlins, see my entries under GMT 800 trucks.]
I would have to replace 3 door locks and one Ign cylinder.
For the near future, I find the Key Out While Running to be a handy feature, so the engine can warm up, while I go back into the house to find something I forgot -- wallet, glasses, important documents, etc.