Door locks, trunk locks, ignition lock cylinders....
I have a few cars here that need door locks. A couple have ignition keys but no door locks. I know that I can buy lock sets but I am wondering if there is another way.
With the variable quality of aftermarket reproduction stuff, I wonder what can be done to "re-key" a lock cylinder.
Can a locksmith take an ignition key and reset the guts of a door lock to match the ignition?
Could they take a used door lock, make a key from it then "re-key" a ignition cylinder to match?
I probably have 15 or more door lock cylinders from the late 60s to mid 70s and they all look the same, even ones for trucks. I also have several 1970+ style steering column lock cylinders with no keys. It would be nice to be able to use them.
Since these came new with a matching door and ignition, how hard could it be?
I have the following that need door locks:
67 Dart
69 Dart (Needs ignition key too)
70 Charger
71 Duster (Needs ignition key too)
72 Duster
75 Power Wagon.
I don't know of any locksmiths near me. I could probably find someone if I looked. I just wondered who else encountered the same situation and what you did.
If you used a reproduction, what brand worked well for you?
I can sell you everything you need. All of my stuff is either made in Alabama, Belgium, NOS, or cores that I have refurbished, re-keyed and rebuilt. I've been selling locks and keys for several years and have yet to have the 1st compliant.
But.....
If you have ignition cylinders with keys, and door cylinders without keys, and none of these are daily drivers this is what I would do. I would take the door cylinders, pop the metal caps off the tops, and knock the pins and springs out. Put the key from your ignition cylinder into the door cylinder and turn. If it turns, then put the cap back on and install in the door. If you don't tell them that any older mopar key will open the locks, they'll never know.
You do have to be careful with the ignition cylinders. The 68 cylinder is the same all the way back to 1938, but the switch is different. The 69 is out there all by itself. The 70-71 ignition is the same, just be careful for tilt non-tilt. The 72 thru 75 should be the same.
The 71 that you have should have a number on the top of it. Give me that number and I can likely cut a key. If the 69 is out of the switch, I may be able to do the same. If it's in the switch, it'll have to be picked to remove.
The up side to all of this is, the trunk cylinders are all the same.
Let me know if I can help out.