Ignition Key

[ACES]

I've got a '69 chevy swb, that I bought without an ignition key. Is there a # marked somewhere that I can take to a chevy dealership or a locksmith and have them make me a key?

Thanks
-Art

[71swb4x4]

I think you may be able to take the switch/tumbler to the locksmith and they may be able to make a key for you. I am not positve but it may be worth a try.

Shawn

[70short]

Doesn't he need the key to remove the tumbler. If the tumbler is out just go to the auto parts store and buy A new one with keys there not expensive $15. That is what I did.

[ACES]

The tumbler is kinda my problem, I can't take it out without the key. Unless someone knows some kinda trick that I'm not aware of.

[67sss]

pop off the shiny face off the switch,break it off, and then it'll come out. don't scratch the dash.buy a new one from someone here.

[Dan72cst]

IF and I mean IF your door locks are the match to your ingition, then you can take the door lock to a locksmith. I'm pretty sure they have a number stamped on the lock.

[ACES]

Unfortunately, the door locks don't match the ignition.
I like 67sss's idea of snapping off the shiny face, but I'm not quite sure how to do it without scratching the heck out of the dash.

[Longhorn Man]

I am not trying to sound liek a smart alleck here, but if you never had a key, how do you know the same key won't fit the doors?
They were siongle key vehicles from the factory.

[71swb4x4]

Maybe he has the key for the door, and it doesn't work in the ignition.

[ACES]

Well, the reason that I believe that the door locks and the ignition don't match is because the doors are not original and are each from different trucks. I suppose it is possible that one of the PO's transferred the locks from the original doors to the replacement.

[Blue Beard]

The right hand door lock on some of these had a code that would allow a locksmith to cut a key from the code.

GM use to use only 1500 key combinations.

I've had keys that started many numerous cars when they became worn down enough.

the correct way to remove the cylinder involves using a paper clip in the little hole by the keyway and depressing a pin inside there.......at the same time turning the tumbler counter clockwise which releases the cylinder.

The GM uses wafer tumblers inside with a sidebar lock.

[Longhorn Man]

OK, my mistake, I didn't even think of doors being swapped.
When i bought my GMC it didn't have a key either. It took a little bit of messing around with it, bit eventually I got a screwdriver in it (With a 5 pound hammer) and then was able to remove it all and replace the whole ignition assembly.
To get it home I just unplugged the ignition switch and hooked the harness into my spare ignition switch and let it dangle under the dash. Had to drive it like that for a month. Kinda hard to explain to the cops when they pull you over and they see a screwdriver in the ignition switch and another ignition switch dangling from under the dash.

[da-burb]

Here is how to replace the ignition using force. You will need a new cylinder and switch, cost is about $25. Start by prying off the stainless cap on the cylinder. Then uncrew the bezel until it is tight against the lock cylinder. At this point the will be unscrewed and out of the bezel, the only thing keeping it in is the cylinder. Take 1 hammer and 1 appropriate sized punch and pop it out the back of the dash. I have done it this way several times with out any damage to the dash or the bezel.