DAILY IDIOT: Fred lost his car key

[Cpt.Fred]

i managed to get the plymouth ready to go to a race near berlin over the weekend.

just had to take part, just to know were i'm standing with the car's performance.

lost every race, but all of them very close.

i was really happy about it since the 40 was the only car without headers, cams and dual carbs, and it was my first drag race ever.

the weekend would have been perfect (sun, beer, cars, beer, more cars, nice people, more beer)

if i wouldn't have lost my car key that night.

i put it on my key chain i had under my overall, but it somehow managed to get away from me,

and that was it.

it was my only key and i had to hotwire my own car to get home with it...

is there any chance to get a new one from the states, maybe with a serial number from one of the locks?

the key was for the ignition, door and filler cap, trunk is different (and that one's missing, too, never had it)

Edited June 28, 2010 by Cpt.Fred

[JerseyHarold]

It might be easier for you to get some key blanks and then have a local locksmith fit a key to your existing lock. The process is called 'impressioning'.

[Cpt.Fred]

are the blanks all the same for these cars? were can i get them?

thanks,

fred

[P-12 Tommy]

Fred, You can usually get some blanks on E-bay. I bought an extra set myself a few years ago. These are aluminum. Not what I prefer, but they'll work.http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Dodge-Plymouth-Aluminum-Key-Blanks-39-40-41-42-47-48-/270528939704?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3efcc806b8

Tom

[Cpt.Fred]

thank you, tommy.

i just bought them, and i'll keep an eye open for others to come.

what's the other material, the original looked like brass to me?

now for some locksmith research...

so i'll have to get the cylinder out of the inginition lock, or the door.

i hope it works out fine.

feel soooooooo stupid for loosing this key. arrgh.

[P-12 Tommy]

Your welcome Fred. The originals look like brass. I'm sure somebody will chime in on what they're made of.

Tom

[greg g]

If you go to the locksmith with the car, they have a process where thy insert the blank, and tap it with a hammer. This tells them which tumblers are where, then they nibble out the material till the key works. You shouldn't need to remove the ignition switch or door cylinder.

[Cpt.Fred]

i wonder if there are any locksmiths here able do that...

sounds like one must be quite crafty for this one.

[BobT-47P15]

The original keys for these old Mopars were aluminum, as far as I know.

Replacement ones may have been of brass.

Back in the 1970s or 80s, one local locksmith had a little

gun looking device and did a process called "shooting the

lock" - where that device would determine where the

tumblers were set. He then used that information to make

the key......and they almost always worked well.

In more recent years, the law enforcement people apparently

declared those instruments illegal as the crooks could make

keys to your house or car real easily.

So, it's currently difficult to find anyone in our town who can make

a good key when presented with a lock. One guy tried a couple

years ago.....but did a poor job.

[Plymouthy Adams]

it is not that they are crafty, it is that they have the tools to do this job lots faster and quicker than ourlselves..I usually have pretty good luck picking these locks in a manner of a couple minutes and can cut my own key to fit, more than a few minutes.....but it is a bit time comsuming and you will yet need a blank to do even that...

[Cpt.Fred]

one thing for sure, i couldn't do that alone.

maybe i find someone who shows me, so i could do the trunk lock on my own.

the ebay blanks tommy showed me should arrive in a couple of days,

i hope i know a little more about the local locksmith scene...

[greg g]

Probably like here all the real craftsmen have retired or passed away. But its worth a look. Should be some older smiths in Berlin.

[BobT-47P15]

You might check the internet to see if any free instructions about

lock stuff..........or might buy a book about it.

[faucet47custom]

I talked to a guy near me who said if I provided the blanks and brought him a door lock, car isn't drivable, he could make one for $25.

[JerseyHarold]

If you want to try it yourself;

Coat the blank with Dykem Blue, insert it in lock, rock it back and forth against the 'pins'; get jiggy with it, enough to 'score' the key, then file away or go at it with a dremel and repeat until it works the lock.

The trick here is when you cut a notch in the key and the Dykem doesn't rub off when you wiggle the key, it means you find the correct cut depth and shouldn't file any more in that pin position.

[Plymouthy Adams]

the 5 tumblers in the lock are dual pin and spring loaded..the bottom tumbler is rounded for easy insertion of the key..the top is almost flat..ALMOST and the pin above it is also almost flat with a small tit on the top that locates the spring center so as not to cause drag. The relationship of the key and bottom tumbler is based on a center line and its length is such to split the inner cylinder to the housing's of the lock itself. The upper tumbler now has to opposite match the bottom for the overall length of the two tumblers in the hole..the spring pushes the tumblers to the farthest lower position. As the key is inerted and the matching key cut aligns with the correct length tumblers..they will all align at the point where the inner cylinder are equal..if the key is cut to deep the tumbler from above will drop below this center line and block the cylinder..if the key is not cut deep enough then the tumbler cannot drop low enough to split the center...and you have to do this for five tumblers blind..do not think you are going to get the 5 to correctly indicate center position by wiggling it against a dye stained blank..I have found it is best to pick the lock, rotate a few degrees to allow the set pin to retract and then extract the lock...then you can remove the clip that locks the tumbler and springs in place..cut your key to match your pin arrangement..locksmiths will usally pick the lock..insert a tool to read the tumbler depth and then cut the key accordingly

this is not a hard task..door locks are even easier as there is no need to pick the lock to read the tumblers...

Edited June 28, 2010 by Tim Adams

[Jerry Roberts]

Contact the organization that put on the get together . They might have a lost and found department .

[Cpt.Fred]

that's what i'm going to do, jerry, but i don't have any hope about this:

a tiny little mopar key with a bent ring, the exact same color like sunburnt grass,

ten thousand people stomping the ground throwing litter, cig butts and beer cups all over the place...

but i'll try, you're right!

i don't know if i should scrape around on a 20$ blank myself if i have never done it before...

i'll try find a locksmith, and if that doesn't work, maybe i'll give it a try.

seems like some of us here are pretty experienced lockpickers... hehehe.

how come?

edit: just noticed i became a guru, funny thing, i don't feel different and most important:

i'm not smarter or wiser than before. dang...!

Edited June 29, 2010 by Cpt.Fred

[Niel Hoback]

Certainly you are smarter than before. You've learned to hang on to your keys, I'll bet.

[Cpt.Fred]

good point...

[BobT-47P15]

I have a spare set of keys.....one for the ignition, other for the trunk,

on the workbench in the garage. The problem would be if I lost the keys

while out at a show or somewhere. How big problem would relate to how

far from home.

I carry a spare key to my van in a little pocket in my wallet.....however,

it will only open the door because not a chip key. When going on a trip,

I put my extra chip key down in the drivers' door pocket. So if I could get

back into the car, could then use that hidden key.

So, in the future, you might put an extra ignition key in your wallet.

Just some friendly advice from an old zen master to a worthy guru.......

[Cpt.Fred]

i bow before your key-zen, master.

it shall be done...

good night everyone!

[greg g]

Cigarette butts, bear cups, litter???? Sounds like America. I thought you European folks were more enlightened and gentile regarding taking care of the environment.

I googled locksmiths in Berlin and there were quite a few. Even a few who mentioed automotive locks in particular.

[Cpt.Fred]

Cigarette butts, bear cups, litter???? Sounds like America. I thought you European folks were more enlightened and gentile regarding taking care of the environment.

I googled locksmiths in Berlin and there were quite a few. Even a few who mentioed automotive locks in particular.

sure we are, the next morning someone with a rake appears and clears the ground for the next party...

those locksmiths all say they can do everything, but i bet when i walk into the shop and put my ingintion lock on the counter, they all start running.

we'll see, i'll keep you updated!

the blanks have been shipped yesterday.