Fastest way to unlock 911 steering lock?

[fastfredracing]

Friday morning, I am going to pull a sad, sad 74 carrera from a caved in garage . It is not going to be a pleasant enviroment to work in . To add insult to injury , the owner cannot find the keys. This is basically a parts car, and has already suffered significant damage.
This car has been sitting for over 10 years, and because of the way it is located in the garage, there is no way I can get at it to remove the ignition , and unlock the column. The drivers side is up against a wall, with part of the garages ceiling caved in down on the car. Cannot even open the drivers door . Even if I had the room, I have zero desire to lay under the moldy , rat feces infested dash to try.
Think I can just muscle it, and break the steering lock? I will have all sorts of demolition tools at my disposal.
Maybe I need to watch No Mans Land again .tonight
I would make a lousy car thief .

[fastfredracing]

Probably should have posted in Tech ....

[javadog]

I don't think you're going to break the steering column lock by just twisting the steering wheel. Might damage the steering wheel...

Put a pair of skates under the front wheels, or just pull it out and hope for the best. If I remember the photo, there's a lot of crap on top and around it. You bringing a skid loader?

JR

[recycled sixtie]

You might want to wear a good dust mask(the industrial type) when working in old garages/barns due to rat and mice droppings. Guy.

[fastfredracing]

It has to make a 90 degree turn and has to travel over broken concrete, gravel, over a curb and grass. Skids are not going to fly here. It then has to be dragged through an alley , and about 4 city blocks to get to a safe open place for me to load it on my trailer. Good idea though. I am going to have to be able to steer it. There is no way a tow truck can get at it either. It is on a narrow little Pittsburgh street. I can barely get my half ton pickup back there. It is going to be a trying day. I may just have to break a few things to get it out. Poor old girl.

[pors1968]

UNbolt the stering shaft and you can move the wheel by hand.

[MRM]

I actually know how to do this. Seriously. I was taught by a professional. Again, seriously.

It's not very hard. The 911 style lock is similar to Japanese ignitions of the same era. The key combination is complicated but the lock itself is not. There isn't anything between the lock and starting the car. So what you to do is take a #5 Craftsman flathead screwdriver and use a hammer to pound it straight into the lock like you were trying to insert the key. You get the screwdriver all the way in and you force rotate the screwdriver, which turns the ignition, breaking the lock. Once the lock is broken you can turn the switch back and forth freely with the screwdriver or anything else you stick into the keyhole. You don't need the key anymore.

[Laneco]

That (above) is exactly how you do this. A screwdriver that lets you put a wrench on the shaft for turning is also helpful.

angela

[fastfredracing]

Cool, Thanks. My job is to fix things like this that are already broken. Never tried to break one before. Sweet. I have some large Snap on drivers that can take a wrench on the top . Gone in 60 seconds.....

[javadog]

I'd probably go with opening the trunk and unbolting the steering linkage. That way, you don't trash a $750 part.

You can think of this as a parts car but I'd suggest you consider that someone will want to restore it, or make a driver out of it. A '74 Carrera is a neat car, and it's worth saving. If it's not worth restoring yet, wait a year. You might be surprised.

JR

[t-tom]

I vote for unbolting the steering linkage. What ever you do If you can please take lots of pictures of the ole' girl. I love this kinda stuff.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by pors1968

UNbolt the stering shaft and you can move the wheel by hand.

Winner.

[fastfredracing]

Unbolting the steering linkage is not going to fly. We have to drag this car 4 city blocks before we can load. Someone has to sit in the car, and steer, to miss all the cars parked on the street,and go around a few bends. I have spare parts . I am sure I have a lock clyinder , and lock assembly somewhere. I have been collecting 911 for stuff for a long time. If I am feeling very brave, I can try to back my quad cab dually and 20 foot trailer up in there, but honestly, there are literally inches on each side of my little truck when take it back there. Cars parked the whole way back one one side, and a cliff on the other, telephone poles, ugh.... This is going to be a tough one. I HAVE to be able to steer it. with a person in the drivers seat of the car. Praying that the brakes work , but not hopeful

[HardDrive]

Photos of this operation please!

[VINMAN]

[javadog]

Hey, it's your choice. It's easy to steer a car by pushing on one front wheel, while walking beside it.

I pprobably wouldn't try the service brakes, unless you want to jack it up and pull the pads to get it rolling again. If you do anything, use the parking brake. Or just have a little help pushing it. Unless you're headed down a decent hill, two guys can stop one of these.

JR

[rusnak]

There are what, 3 bolts holding the steering lock to the dash? If you can mock up a tool to easily reach bolt #3, then go that route. That might ultimately be much easier than not being able to steer the car or having the lock not disengage.

[fastfredracing]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

Photos of this operation please!

I promise!!

[GWN7]

Wheel dollys? Jack the car up and put a wheel dolly under each wheel. Then roll it where ever you want.

[Gogar]

sometimes i like to just go down to the bottom without reading and just type