Keys

[Rex T.]

Is there a difference in original keys for 64 and 67 Corvettes, and if so, what is the difference? Also, which keys are keyed alike.............ignition and door locks, ignition and glove box, etc?

Thanks,
Rex

[Peter L.]

Re: Keys

Rex -

All cars came with 2 sets of keys and most Corvettes came with GM/Briggs & Stratton logo head keys although some cases of GM/Rochester Products logo head keys have been reported.

64 & 65-66 Keys-

64s used one key, an octagaon head key, for all locks
65 & 66 used two keys, an octagon head key for the ignition switch & door locks and a round head key for the glovebox and spare tire locks.

The 64-66 octagon head keys are the same and the 65-66 round head keys are the same. In fact the octagon head key and the round head key are the same keyways, i.e. the grooves on the key shafts are the same, so both keys will go into the lock but only the correctly cut key will operate the lock.

67 Keys-

67 was the start of the letter keys with 67 using the octagon head "A" keyway key and the round head "B" keyway key and the next to the last year for the octagon head and round head keys. 68 was the last year for the octagon and round head keys. 68 used an octagon head "C" keyway key and a round head "D" keyway key. With the letter keys the keyways were different for the different letters, so an "A" key will not go into "B", "C'., or "D" keyway lock, etc. Again the octagon head keys operated the ignition switch and door locks and the round head keys operated the glovebox/compartment and spare tire locks.

Hope the information helps. Pete

[Rex T.]

Re: Keys

Thanks Pete, that is an excellent explanation of the keys. Thanks for your help. Rex

[John D.]

Re: Keys

Peter, Did you ever see a '63 key that is round? I have one that looks like it came out of the titanic and it's stamped with the same number as my ignition. Ever see such an animal? Whatta you think? John

[Ray C.]

Re: Keys

Where can one get another key cut? My 63 only has one worn key. The knock out is still in the key, so I do have the key number.

Thanks Ray

[Terry M.]

Re: Keys

Ray -- contact Pete Lindahl two posts above

[John D.]

Re: Keys

Ray, Peter's keys are 100% perfect. He's a real pleasure to deal with and knows his keys. You key should have the big hole for the key ring and the logo. Peter first will send you a trial key to see if it works properly. Then he will cut you the final key. His key number characters are the real deal. Most important of all they work the first time around. You will be pleased. John

[Ray C.]

Re: Keys

Thanks! I have sent Peter an email.

Ray

[Peter L.]

Re: Keys - Inquiring Minds Want to Know

John - I think you're staying up too late at night working on those fuel units, but here goes

1. Yes, GM used the round head keys, p/n 7002238, with the GM/Briggs & Stratton logo head in many accessory applications that Briggs made the locks such as gloveboxes, spare tire locks, etc.

2/3. Yes, interesting but not surprizing. Remember keys up thru 1966 had only 1500 different KEY NUMBERs from 8000 to 9499. So, you have it either by design (see following spare tire lock Technical Service Bulletin story) or by a 1 in 1500 chance.

4. Here's what I think based on the interpretation of some comments on Technical Service Bulletin, DR #610 on Spare Tire Lock Corrosion - 1963 Corvette I have.

"Spare tire lock jamming or difficult operation may be due to an accumulation of dirt and salt deposits in the lock cylinder. To prevent or correct field complaints concerning this problem, the lock should be checked when the vehicle is in for service and if defective, cleaned, and a protective boot (p/n 3841701) installed."

It appears that a correctly keyed spare tire key core and key made to the car's original KEY NUMBER could be possibly be obatined if the lock still worked but the key core was prone to jamming because of dirt or corrosion. These keys and cores would have had to of come from Briggs & Stratton and since this was an accessory lock key core, the key that would have come with the lock core would have had the round head and stamped with the KEY NUMBER that was the same as the one original to the other locks on the car so the lock would operate with the original keys.

I don't have any idea if this was done or how often or if generally, they just replaced the spare tire lock and rekeyed it to the car in-house. Trying to figure out what happened 40 plus years ago is always interesting. Even more interesting will be what others have to say on the subject or if others with 63' have round head keys that have the same KEY NUMBER as their octagon head key.

Having fun, Pete

[John D.]

Re: Keys - Inquiring Minds Want to Know

Peter, Are you going to the Boston regional in Sept? If so let me know and I will bring the round key for your inspection. Are you aware that 64 Corvair used a round key for the spare tire lock? Maybe other year of Corvairs also. By the way I had a couple of Corvairs that I drove in the winter so my Corvettes didn't get the road salt. Maybe I have a round Corvair key that's the same number as my Corvette key? It has the big key ring hole. When are you going to write about the special key ring that held the two keys together when the car was new. That should be some interesting trivia. John

[Gary B.]

Write about the special key ring...

And I thought the article Pete and I wrote on the size of the key hole was esoteric enough!

Gary

[John D.]

Esoteric key article

Gary, Webster defines esoteric as: Understood by or meant for only a select. few. Private or secret. You have been hanging around my friend Peter too long. Love the word though. Haven't run across it in the daily cross word puzzles that I have an addiction for. Nice job on the key article In "The Restorer". I imagine it was difficult doing with your understudy. The key holder for the mid years and others is really unique and so tiny. I think you could explain it in one sentence but I am sure some would get a kick out of seeing the copper colored part and others would probably not. I really like the details as it makes the restorations so much fun (except for the shock washers). John

[Mike Iachelli]

Re: Keys

Hi, can you clarify "64s used one key for all locks"?

Does that include locks and ignition?

Thanks..Mike

[Jack H.]

Re: Keys

Yes, one key means a single key worked all locks on the car including the spare tire lock and this was the norm through 1964...

[John H.]

Re: Keys

Mike -

Yup, one key worked every lock on the car in '64 - ignition, doors, glove box, and spare tire lock.