67 key blank knockouts

[Jack Katz]

I bought the correct A and B key blanks....had my local locksmith cut the keys and they work perfectly. However, he had no "tool" or recommendation on how to punch out the knock out tabs. He went so far as to tell me that these key blanks weren't correct NOS, because there was no way to punch them out. I've looked at several sets of 67 key blanks and except for the line that goes around the area designated as the knock out tab, it seems that the key is solid throughout - no indication that the knockout tab is weaker and able to be punched out. Did the GM dealers have some type of special tool for punching these out?

I didn't see anything in the Judging Manual that indicated the knockout tabs should still be on the key or not, but it would seem that they serve no purpose and should be knocked out. Anyway, they'd fit better on my key ring without the knockout tabs! So.....how do you punch out those tabs?????

[Peter L.]

Re: 67 key blank knockouts

Jack - I've heard that the Dealer had a tool to knock the KNOCK OUT plug out but most of us just use a punch on the plug and remove it by putting a block of wood behind it or something that would allow you to remove it. From the originality perspective you might not want to remove the KNOCK OUT because that it how the keys came with the car and the Dealer was to remove them and give them to the owner or owner was remove them once the key code was recorded. Originally, the keys that came with cars had the key code stamped on the KNOCK OUT plug.

As far as I know, the Briggs & Stratton/GM logo head keys that were originally provided with '67 Corvettes and other '67 GM cars with the KNOCK OUT plugs were designed that the KNOCK OUT plug could be readily removed; so it's curious as to what the configuration is of the keys you have. Additional details would help.

Pete