VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 Glovebox Lock

I’m looking for a glovebox lock assembly for my ”˜37 Coupe, or someone to rebuild mine. I can buy a barrel assembly on EBay but I think I’ll mess up the chrome cover prying it off to get the locking barrel out.

This is a '38. I don't know how similar it is with your '37. If it's the same you can see a small screw on the retainer. Remove the screw and the lock will fall out.

It’s the same lock, I have already taken the small screw out to removed the lock assembly from the door. The problem is the internal mechanism that lowers the hook piece that holds the door closed is broken. To get to it, you have to remove the internal locking barrel that the key goes into. It appears to be held in by the front chrome cover which is bent around the back of the piece you grip when you push the button in. I think I’ll mess up that cover when I pry it off.
Thanks

Don't pry anything off. That's not how it works. Look at my posts in this thread:

https://vccachat.org/ubbthreads.php/topics/429125/re-37-glove-box.html

I did get the cylinder out as described in these posts and found the problem. The back of the cylinder broke off that pushes the latch open when you push the button in. I have the lock assembly with the wings that you hook your fingers behind when pushing in the button (used on ”˜36 and ”˜37). There isn’t one on EBay, just the round chrome button type. I’m wondering if the cylinder in those type are the same and would fit in mine?

My broken one in the pic (the notch shouldn't be there and caused the cylinder to fall out) as you can see is in a black knob (36 Pontiac), my replacement came from a round chrome knob. and the guy in the thread asking had a 37 Chevrolet. I believe these are all the same for several years and several GM makes.

Short version: I'm 99 percent sure it will work with the t-handle. Maybe someone else in here knows for sure.

So, in addition to what ever was broken, you found 2 pieces in addition to the cylinder in there, right? The hook and one other?

I’ve tried to attach a photo, but it was the back of the cylinder that broke off where it pushes up against the small sliding plate that moves the latch.

Oh!

Last night when I posted that I was wondering if someone could have left the slider out of yours. I realize now that if they had, the cylinder would have just fallen out.

Matt, did you find a solution to this issue. I have the same issue with the broken tumbler.

Hi Matt, I too am having trouble with my 37MD glove box lock. Mine didn't have a key but was unlocked. The glove box door is currently being held closed with a piece of duck tape. Is there a # somewhere on the cylinder or elsewhere so I can get a key made? Also, would you have a picture of what its supposed latch to on the upper inside of the glove box? whatever was there is long gone.
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Joes37

I'm not MattD, but I did repair one of these.

1937MD- If the center piece that turns is broken, you have to replace it. It will then need the key from the replacement part.

To match your own key instead, you have to remove the tiny flat plates and springs that "key" the lock from your old one and put them in the new one in the same order. They are held in by some pieces of spring wire that are staked into the zinc. It is fiddly magnifying-glass work, but not impossible.

These cylinders are used on a whole bunch of GM cars of the period even if the knob doesn't match. The prices on ebay are IMHO too high, and a lot of it has been listed for literally years. Find someone who is parting out a mid 30s GM car and look at the lock closely. If it looks the same from the back side you are on the right track.

Joe's 37- Yes, but the key code number is on the piece that turns. You will have to pick the lock once (or get a locksmith to) to get it out so you can see the number. You are halfway there. If it were locked, you would have to pick it twice.

As for the missing piece on the upper inside of the glovebox, I don't know. My car is not a 37 MD, it is a 36 Pontiac. The lock parts are the same, and that little catch inside the box might be the same too, but I have no way to know. I would be happy to take a picture if it will help. Let me know.

Also, see my posts in this thread: https://vccachat.org/ubbthreads.php/topics/429125/re-37-glove-box.html

Thank you bloo for your reply. Nothing on the lock seems to be broken--yet! Yes, I would appreciate a picture of that little catch inside the box. It will give me some idea what I'm looking for. Now I just have to figure out how to pick the lock to get it out. Thank's agin for your help on this bloo,
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Joe's37

Joe
If you take the complete mechanism to a true locksmith he will be able to remove the barrel and "rekey" it for you. A good locksmith could do it in less than 1 hour.
Tony

Hey Tony, Thanks for your input. Believe me, Iv'e thought of all these ideas. But being retired and living on a fixed income plus about ready to loose all my pension benefits, the dollar bill gets a little tight! And with the virus here, and being in my 70's I've got to be a little more careful where I go. Sorry if I've dumped my Doom & Gloom on ya Tony, and I know others have it far worse. But thanks to the generosity of everybody in this club, the information is what keeps me going at times with my car! This is why I've got to do as much as possible on my own, without having to go out much.Thank's to all,
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Joe's37

The little brackets to the left and right had rubber bumpers. Not sure about the center. It did not have one by the time the car got to me. Hole is slightly larger than the other two. Pictures are 1936 Pontiac.

Thank's so much bloo for the pictures. At least now I know what to look for or fabricate! Thank's agin,
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Joe's37

I believe a made one for my 37 that was missing it. I'll have to look but I think it is just a piece of copper bent on a 90* angle. It has been so long that I can't remember the details or why it was missing but it has worked fine for years.

That's a good Idea Ed, is it made from sheet copper or flattened tubing? I'm still wrestling with trying to get my lock out to see the #'s to have a new key made. Thank's
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Joe's37

This is what the lock catch looks like on my '38. I assume the '37 would be similar.

Tiny and Bloo - the lock latches that you show are correct for your years. The 1938 part is different than 1937.
I expect the 1938 version was a bit less expensive for GM to make and maybe more stable with 2 mounting screws.

Sorry Joe I didn't see your question until now, I think it was made from a flat piece and looks very similar the picture that Tiny sent you.

Hi Ed, the one that Tiny has in his picture has two mounting screws on his catch, mine has one. But after looking through my coffee cans of small parts that came with the car, I found the one that looks like bloo's, in his picture. After installing it in the car, I caved in and finally went to a hardware store that has a locksmith in it. 15 min. later I have a working lock and two new key's! I'll have to start looking through those can's of small parts more often!
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Joe's37

Great news!

I wish I could figure out how to send the pictures to this site off my phone of certain parts. Guess I'll have to get my Granddaughter over and have her try to teach grandpa a new trick!
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Joe's37

I know what you mean Joe. Even if I figure out how to do it once, I forget the next time!! Isn't this getting old great??