VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 1931 Chevrolet Ignition Electrolock

The 1931 Chevrolet cars used a ignition electrolock assy which, I believe, pop out when the key was turned to the right. The replacements that I can find will work fine but they do not have that pop out feature. Do most of you that have 1931 Chevrolet use the replacements with out the pop out feature or do you look until you find a good original. Is the replacement the way to go?

Are you going to have your car judged or is it going to be a driver?

:)

I have the car to drive and enjoy. I may at some point take it to a local car show or meet. I would like it to be as close to original as possible or acceptable by most. Is a non pop out switch what most use for replacement? Are the original switches still available? I have been unable to find a good used or new OEM.

Driving your car and enjoying it is what this hobby is all about. Anyway, for a driver you can go with an aftermarket electrolock and it will give you years of good service. Aftermarket electrolocks are fairly easy to locate and you can pick up a new old replacement stock unit for around $75 or so. The OEM "pop out" electrolocks are harder to locate and they usually command a lot more money as well.

:o :whistle:

in what years were the pop-out style originally equipped?..


epi

1929 thru mid 1933.

:)

I think one type was delivered from 29 to 32. May be there was another type from 33 and later.

The electrolocks from 1929 thru 1933 were actually different. The 1929 only had one terminal whereas the electrolocks from 1930 thru 1933 had three terminals. The electrolocks from 1930 thru 1932 each used a different internal plunger and the terminal blocks were also different. For the early 1933 electrolock the cable housing was smaller in diameter than the previous electrolocks, and also for 1933 there was a cap on the end of the cable that attached to the coil. All previous electrolocks attached to the side of the distributor. And, in mid-1933 the electrolock was changed from a "pop out" to an "off-on".

:)

so each year's electrolock differed on the inside, e.g. plunger & terminal block?..


epi

:) :grin:

just checking to make sure I was reading it right...thanks...


epi

Thanks for the info. I have a part number from the Chevrolet catalog which is 362857. I believe that this is the original Chevrolet part number for a 1931 Electrolock but it states that the part number was the same for 1929 to 1932. Is this correct?

Yes and no. The part number for the 1929 electrolock is 348964. The part number for the 1930 thru 1932 electrolocks is 362857. However, the internal contacts (plunger) for 1930, 1931 and 1932 were all different and there are different part numbers for each contact.

:)

Hey Skipper. My pop out Ignition on my 32, Im having trouble getting It to pop out. I have two keys and no matter which one I use It takes some work to turn the key and pop out the Ignition. One of the two keys I have, Sometimes I cannot get It to come out very easily. Any Ideas mwhat to do. Thanks Don

Hey Donald! Haven't seen you on Chevy Chatter for years! Welcome back!

Regarding the lock cylinder on your electrolock, it sounds like possibly the lock cylinder has swollen with age and it is getting hard to turn....or the lock cylinder needs some lubrication. Since the lock cylinder is made out of pot metal, the pot metal tends to swell with age thus making it hard to turn the plug (the part where the key goes) in the lock cylinder.

First, try spraying a little WD40 into the plug on the lock cylinder and see if the key will turn easier in the lock cylinder. If that doesn't work send me a PM and I will give you some other ideas that might help.

If after lubrication the lock cylinder does not easily turn and pop out the die-cast (pot metal) parts are swelling. The lock needs to be taken apart and the two die-cast parts resized. Don't even think about taking it to a local locksmith. They don't understand the lock and will destroy it. There are only a few that have experience with those locks. I have saved two in the last month and several others over the years.

The car I have was my father's that he restored in the late 60's and early 70's. It has the pop out ignition!

All 1929 thru 1932 and early 1933 Chevrolets had the "pop-out" electrolock as standard equipment from the factory. The "off-on" type of electrolock was an aftermarket replacement.

there is an electrolock on Ebay at a yard near me look up frenchlakeautoparts listed as original and $65.00

Buying an electrolock is a gamble. Many are frozen and can't be freed with anything tried to date. Several of us have tried nearly everything we can think of without much success. If the seller will guarantee that the lock cylinder is functional even though it does not have a key then you might get lucky and have one that can be refurbished. I have probably 10 or so that are frozen and only good for parts.

I also have the same problem with some of the electrolocks that I have in stock......due to frozen lock cylinders, the electrolocks are only good for parts.

What can someone put on an electrolock that is still working to prevent the problem of the lock cylinder from swelling and freezing.

Light to medium weight oil. Doesn't take much but a little more often is far better than a lot once.

How do you apply it and where? Can it be done with the lock in the car. I can not get to the car now to see how the lock comes out of the instrument panel

Pop it out and put a little oil on the top of the popped out cylinder. Give it a little time to flow into the barrel. Add a drop or two to the key slot and then work the key in and out a few times to spread the lube. Now work the lock a few times to distribute the oil.