original keys..

[1966chevroletpu]

hey, i was wondering if anybody has an original photo, or knows what the original keys look like for a 1966 chevy truck...thanx

[1966-Suburban-V-8]

Both sides of the original Briggs & Stratton GM ignition key



Dan

[damnyankee36]

Here's what a 42-year-old 66 key looks like! :-)

Larry

[Tomsriv]

Originally Posted by damnyankee36

Here's what a 42-year-old 66 key looks like! :-)

Larry

LOL, me too. I found that just about any key will work. I got a matching set from The Truck Shop so that I only need to carry one key for the door and ignition.

[Phildooney]

Mine is the same as larry's. It's getting a bit thin and I am affraid it will snap in the lock. Would like to get a new one cut, but the pattern is too poor to copy.

[63 & 64 Bowties]

Don't know if you're interested, but there's a couple of ebay sellers who sell original briggs and stratton GM uncut key blanks. I bought a set for my 64 a couple years ago, but I still see them for sale. The seller I got mine from got them from a closed down locksmith shop.

[rickf]

Originally Posted by 63 & 64 Bowties

Don't know if you're interested, but there's a couple of ebay sellers who sell original briggs and stratton GM uncut key blanks. I bought a set for my 64 a couple years ago, but I still see them for sale. The seller I got mine from got them from a closed down locksmith shop.

The original style keys are not hard to come by. Just a month or two ago I went to some random locksmith shop at a strip mall in Wilsonville OR and they had both the ignition and glovebox/door patterns in stock on the wall. Same oriignal Briggs&Stratton /GM lettering and all. I got two keys made for $5.00 each.

I've ssen those blanks on ebay and on other "vintage" web sites at "collector" prices. That is ridiculous, they remain ordinary key blanks that can be had for ordinary prices from ordinary sources.

My grandpa was smart, and I followed his example (that just makes me a copykat, not neessarily smart). I have an original key that is virutally unused and in perfect shape for the pattern. "We" only use the copies, when they are getting worn we make
new copies from the original.

[62 C60]

Originally Posted by damnyankee36

Here's what a 42-year-old 66 key looks like! :-)

Larry

Thats about what my '62 key looks like. They get like that after a while.

Originally Posted by Fred T

I would assume that if the key is that worn, the cylinder is worn and needs replacement.

Its not that the cylinder is worn, its just from putting the key in and out of the ignition or door for 40+ years and its the teeth in the cylinders that do it.

[Fred T]

I would assume that if the key is that worn, the cylinder is worn and needs replacement.

[damnyankee36]

Originally Posted by Fred T

I would assume that if the key is that worn, the cylinder is worn and needs replacement.

Oh yeah, it's worn alright. When I used to make duplicates of the that key, I was amazed how such a worn out key could make a new key work the ignition switch. That's when I discovered a screwdriver could start the truck!

Larry

[dallas77]

I found that most locksmiths have a set of original gm keys and if not you can get them from any catalog i.e. ecklers, year one

[chevy283]

wow my truck came with the orignal key and it still looks new. guess my truck didnt get drove much. lol