Problems with a missing car key.

[Cracocuda]

I have a '70 Barracuda that I have been restoring for quite some time. I don't have the car with me, it is currently at my brother's house. I only had a single ignition key. This weekend I traveled to my brother's house and discovered that the key was missing. So I'm left without a car key. What would be the best alternative to have a car key again. Change the switch or find a locksmith who can make a key that can start the car? I need ideas like where to get a new switch to remove the old one. Or is it possible that a locksmith can make a key to work with the old switch? I need help. Thanks in advance.

 

[Challenger RTA]

It can be done with some simple tools. Remove the steering wheel and can to access the lock cylinder. A locksmith can make new key. Then have a few more cut. You can buy a new lock cylinder and install. Pick your poison.
1971 DODGE CHALLENGER 5.6L 340cid V8 Ignition Lock Cylinder | Shop Now at RockAuto

 

[Challenger RTA]

Pay no attention to to tilt wheel of the lock cylinder fit. It's just a thing now. Garbage in garbage out.
This is what really gets me.

 

[Chryco Psycho]

There is a code on the ign cyl , Being a locksmith virtually any locksmith can create a key or rekey it to a new key if you are worried about where the original is .
Ebody never used a tilt column but the tilt column uses a different lock cylinder FYI

 

[Xcudame]

A locksmith will be able to make a key easily. Also, it's easy to re-key an old Mopar cylinder lock to another Mopar key. My 70 Challenger and 71 Barracuda use the same ignition key as I never intend to part with either until I croak. Then it's my son's problem, but I won't care!

 

[EV2RTSE]

I would lean towards having a key made, the same key should work the ignition and door locks so if you change just the ignition then you'll need one key to get in the car and another to start it.

Assuming all of the locks are original you should be able to just take out a door handle and have another key made off of that, should be easier than pullling the can off the column to get at the ignition lock.

Or you could buy a matching ignition and door lock set-

NEW Mopar 1970-71 Cuda Challenger Door & Ignition Lock Set | eBay

Also the 70 ignition lock had the satin finish to it and most replacements are chrome, not sure if that's important to you or not but just something to be aware of. Here's a correct 70 set, you can see it's also more expensive-

MOPAR 1970 lockset with used SATIN finish ignition lock & NOS door locks 2999444 | eBay

 

[Mopar426power]

and the trunk is a different key, so you may need one of those also.

 

[Katfish]

As mentioned, if the door lock matches the ignition, take that to a locksmith.
Will be the cheapest, least painful route.
I gotta believe it would be several hundred to come to you.
Much cheaper if you bring it in.

 

[Challenger RTA]

Funny thing about locks. There only purpose is to keep honest people honest and slow down someone for about 10-20 seconds. When I was working pipe line and was working with the mechanic. I was changing an idler pulley on a newer Dodge RAM. Today's high 12° Just so you know. Before I got done The Boss ask are you done yet? He was razzing me. Right after that I hear SON OF A *****!. He locked his keys in the truck. The thing was it was electric locks but we got it.

At a previous safety meeting he was on the guys about locking the keys in the trucks. The problem the mechanic and I would have to go to the place where they were staying and unlock the trucks just so they could get to the site. We got pretty good at it. He would just sit in the truck and say you'll be back before I even get out go do it. He was about 6' 6" 300lb Just a big WV coal miner, great guy.

So you ask how big is he! Nobody was not going to tell him his miners hard hat not complainant for a construction job. Hard hats are only good for 5 years to be complainant
Not even the owner of the company..

 

[Cracocuda]

I would lean towards having a key made, the same key should work the ignition and door locks so if you change just the ignition then you'll need one key to get in the car and another to start it.

Assuming all of the locks are original you should be able to just take out a door handle and have another key made off of that, should be easier than pullling the can off the column to get at the ignition lock.

Or you could buy a matching ignition and door lock set-

NEW Mopar 1970-71 Cuda Challenger Door & Ignition Lock Set | eBay

Also the 70 ignition lock had the satin finish to it and most replacements are chrome, not sure if that's important to you or not but just something to be aware of. Here's a correct 70 set, you can see it's also more expensive-

MOPAR 1970 lockset with used SATIN finish ignition lock & NOS door locks 2999444 | eBay

 

[Cracocuda]

I would lean towards having a key made, the same key should work the ignition and door locks so if you change just the ignition then you'll need one key to get in the car and another to start it.

Assuming all of the locks are original you should be able to just take out a door handle and have another key made off of that, should be easier than pullling the can off the column to get at the ignition lock.

Or you could buy a matching ignition and door lock set-

NEW Mopar 1970-71 Cuda Challenger Door & Ignition Lock Set | eBay

Also the 70 ignition lock had the satin finish to it and most replacements are chrome, not sure if that's important to you or not but just something to be aware of. Here's a correct 70 set, you can see it's also more expensive-

MOPAR 1970 lockset with used SATIN finish ignition lock & NOS door locks 2999444 | eBay

Very good recommendations. I think I'm going to go ahead and make a copy of the key for the existing ignition switch. Actually, the key that was lost could not open the door lock, since the doors belonged to another car used as a donor. In fact, I already have the door locks purchased on Ebay. Thanks for the recommendations. I'm going to continue making a copy of the car's original switch even if it doesn't work for the doors. Thank you so much.

 

[Cracocuda]

As mentioned, if the door lock matches the ignition, take that to a locksmith.
Will be the cheapest, least painful route.
I gotta believe it would be several hundred to come to you.
Much cheaper if you bring it in.

That’s the way I will go. Thank you very much.

 

[EV2RTSE]

Very good recommendations. I think I'm going to go ahead and make a copy of the key for the existing ignition switch. Actually, the key that was lost could not open the door lock, since the doors belonged to another car used as a donor. In fact, I already have the door locks purchased on Ebay. Thanks for the recommendations. I'm going to continue making a copy of the car's original switch even if it doesn't work for the doors. Thank you so much.

I just thought of something. The locksmith should be able to easily change the tumblers in the door locks to match the ignition lock so that you will again only need one key to get in and start the car. It shouldn't be expensive either, these locks don't have much to them. I've had some done before although it was years ago. And while you're at it, if you have a glove box and center console lock they should work off of the round trunk key.

 

[heminut]

Assuming all of the locks are original you should be able to just take out a door handle and have another key made off of that, should be easier than pullling the can off the column to get at the ignition lock.

That won't work, the locksmith will need the ignition lock. I had the same problem, lost my keys and had to pull the ignition and trunk locks to get new keys made. The Locksmith told me the door lock cylinders don't use as many tumblers as the ignition switch does, and he would not be able to make a new key using the door locks that would work in the ignition.

 

[EW1BH27]

Thanks for the info heminut, I didn’t know that. Glad you posted your experience, I learned something today.

 

[Chryco Psycho]

Not true in E bodies , The door & ign use 5 pin tumblers in both the door & ign locks + the ign lock has a code stamped onto the body to create a new key without disassembling the lock
Cars in the later years into the 80s do drop 1 tumbler in the door cylinder but these typically have 10 tumblers in the ign & 8-9 in the door .
I have made a living at this for 40+ years

 

[EW1BH27]

Well there you go, I keep learning.