Can you re-key the locks (?)

[cTindall]

Can anyone give me a bit of advice on re-keying the locks? I'd like to get all of my locks working with the same key as the ignition. What's the best way to approach this? I'll change the ignition too, if I have to.

Thanks.

[David McLaughlin]

Try this:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/mult_lock_rekey/mult_lock_rekey.htm

[rockaria]

I was wondering if there a way to reset the ignition tumbler? All my dors and trunk and all are the same but the ignition. It would seem easier to do just one, if possible.

Thanks,

[campbellcj]

From what I recall, it's usually easier to rekey the others to match the ignition. Ignition switches are not designed to be easy to take apart and put back together, whereas door & trunk locks are a piece of cake.

[HMeeder]

I agree with Chris.

I re-keyed my trunk lock to match the ignition and doors (the PO was a major scavenger.) The locks are very easy to take apart. By fooling with the various sliders you can get very close to what you need and then take a Dremel and grind/polish the sliders to allow them to travel around the tumbler and viola! I was quite happy with the results.

[3D914]

OK guys - sound advice, but where can one find some extra tumblers? And I don't mean 10-year old gymnists!

PP said NONO!

TIA

[HMeeder]

Well, I believe I had read that the "place in Atlanta" had re-key kits. Not sure about that.

But just a thought, the keys and locks are identical to Volkswagen locks from the same time period. Perhaps a couple of old door locks from a Beetle or 412 or Bus from the early '70s could be scavenged to donate the internals?

Worth a try.

[John2kx]

I was in the same boat just a few months ago after purchasing my car..... one key and it only fit the ignition. The Pelican tech article provided great pics and instructions but I too wanted a few new tumblers first (so I thought).

As the tech article mentioned, there are only 4 different tumbler sizes. I took my locks apart and identified the various sizes......mine happened to all be numbered. Use the ones you have that are correct in size and trim the ones that don't fit with a dremel tool or flat file.

Like any new task, the first one will take the longest but things really speed up after you understand how simple the locks work. Total time to do both doors and trunk was about 2 hours. Come to think of it, this is the only job I've taken on that didn't cost anything!!

[cTindall]

Thanks for all the advice, guys. I rekeyed the locks las night and everything worked out very well. There was some slop in the old key, so I had to match the tumblers as best I could, then I ground down the rest to match. Next I'll continue with my "Ambitious Stereo Installation", see previous post.