Reproduction Parts for 1916-1964 Chevrolet Passenger Cars & 1918-1987 Chevrolet & GMC Trucks


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Grease Monkey
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I have got a '39 chevrolet with no ignition key. I took the trunk handle, door handle and glove box lock into the lockSmith. They made keys for all of them but none of them work the ignition. I tried all my old gm keys and none of them will turn the cylinder.

Is there some way to make a turn out or bump key to get the cylinder out so I can have a key made? I know that it doesn't have to turn much to allow the paper clip to push the retainer in.

I really do not want to destroy the cylinder/ housing as it is an orginal electro-loc.

The locksmith told me there is like 60 combinations that it could be.

Thoughts? Thanks



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The GM keys from 1935-1966 are all of one series....keep trying.
Other than that here i no easy way to remove the cylinder.
The door should be the same as the ignition.


Gene Schneider
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The locking barrels are available on ebay all the time .maybe you can get the locksmith to change the old barrel over to a new one. I have unlocked several 1939 electrolock by trying as many keys as I could until one turned the barrel. I still installed the new barrels, which came with 2 keys cut already.


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As Gene said the door and ignition should be the same. Someone may have replaced the door lock at some time in the past. Locksmiths once all had large rings of every GM key because they were used over and over. It was just a process of trying them in order until you found the right one then make a copy of it. You might be lucky enough to find an old time locksmith that still has a set. I was lucky enough to find one when I accidentally locked myself out of my trunk. Good luck with it.


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Check ebay or Chevs of the 40's for parts. It may be easier just buying one off of ebay with a key! Here is an old post on how to take the lock cylinder out of the Electrolock housing. Take your time and do not over bend the tabs holding the lock cylinder to its Electrolock case. You probably should consider rewiring the complete assembly.

Good luck, Mike

Electrolock Repair

Last edited by Mike Buller; 07/14/16 08:26 AM.

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I can't argue that he likely need to rewire the electrolock but that still won't get the lock cylinder out to where a key can be made.


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If the locksmith does not have the master key set he may be able to pick the lock. There are also lock profile instruments that can read the lock so a key can be made. Most locksmiths don't have the skill or tools to do the job so it may take some time to find the right one.


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I worked at a dealership for 27 years. Cut keys, coded lock cylinders, etc. We never had nor heard of a master key. Knowing how a key works in a lock cylinder I can not understand how a so called master key could work.

Last edited by Chev Nut; 07/14/16 04:52 PM.

Gene Schneider
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I was not referring to a single master key but a set of 50 or so keys that can operate the locks from 1935 into the 60s.


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If you don't need to save the lock cylinder, here is the way to remove it as outlined in the GM Manual. Drilling Out Cylinder


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Grease Monkey
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I pulled the lock cylinder and outer housing off the electro-loc switch
(Bent three tabs back) and the locksmith rekeyed the cylinder to match the door key which is what it should have been in the first place. They used a turn out key to get the cylinder out of the housing.


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1947 Hudson Commodore
1977 Chevrolet Impala
1966 Buick Electra
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