Help, no keys! Locked Ignition/steering column!

[Josh69]

Hi all, just got my '69 Firebird down at the body shop yesterday. I got the car without any keys, and the you could just start it by turning the ignition as if there was a key in it.

This has never happened before, but it finally 'locked' the ignition and steering after I reached in to shut it off last night.

What is the best way to get it started again so my body shop guy can move it around?

I considered overnight shipping a set of locks/keys, but not sure if he knows how to install them, and I'm not going to be in that town again until the weekend (I'm 1.5hours away)

How do you go about it? Can a locksmith make a new key or disable the lock?

How do you remove the old ignition and put a new one in?

[LMDGUY]

Well if its at a bodyshop ask them if they know anybody that does steering column repairs, maybe they can come unlock the steering.

[SimplyKC]

How do you remove the old ignition and put a new one in?

While I'm not for sure on your particular car, there is often a pinhole that is a release that you use in conjuction with the key turning counter clockwise.

Probably not what you wanted to hear, but it is ant-theft measure so that you cannot steal a car by simply changing ignition switches with hand tools.

They may have to screwdriver it and bust it. Once it is busted you can replace the switch. I'd wait to hear some other options before I went and did that though.

A locksmith may be able to make a key for you but I bet it would be pricey. Maybe worth it when you consider potential damge to your steering column.

Good luck!

[SimplyKC]

Oh wait, it sounds like the switch you have wasn't great to begin with....I'd screwdriver it.

[Josh69]

Thanks guys! I just got off the phone with a reputable locksmith that has done work for my Dad in the past. He said he'll rebuild the switch and make a couple of keys for under $100 right there in the garage.

I'll give that a whirl before I do anything drastic!

KC, I had the screwdriver in it last night, and I was just about to give her heck, and I thought better of it and left it alone! I've always wanted to try that tho..... ;)

[baz67]

I had the same thing happen to me with my 77 Camaro in HS. I had the time so I just took the column apart until I could get the tumbler out. It sounds like you are in need of a new tumbler anyway so I would just get him a new one and have it installed. I would hate to have it lock up at the local car show with the old one in the car.

[MrQuick]

I was going to suggest pulling out your door lock cylinder and bringing it down to your lock smith and have a new key made from that code since on 69 its the same as the ignition lock...at least on mine it is.

[MonzaRacer]

If its coulm mounted key switch all you gotta fo is pull the wheel and the lock plate(tool rentals from Autozone) and then remove like 3 screws from turnsignal switch and there is a phillips or allen head screw you remove and the lock cyl pulls right out.
Heck I had to do this as I left keys on tool box one day a few yrs ago, lucky me the steering wheel wasnt tight (I wiggled it off the splines, used vice grips to remove the nut and pushed down the lock plate and removed the clip and used a pocket screw driver to unscrew the turnsignal switch and tada I got her out and then used old screw driver to start car.
Might take 30 minutes.

[Josh69]

I was going to suggest pulling out your door lock cylinder and bringing it down to your lock smith and have a new key made from that code since on 69 its the same as the ignition lock...at least on mine it is.

BINGO, we have a winner! My dad recommended a locksmith that was pretty good, and he went through the effort to dig amongst my boxes of parts and found the door cylinders, the code was on there so he made a key and it worked in the ignition!