Author Topic: 68 Camaro ignition and trunk keys  (Read 21306 times)

My68SS

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68 Camaro ignition and trunk keys
« on: April 28, 2006, 12:39:19 PM »
Hi all, Did 68 Camaro's only come with hex head style C/D keys, or is it possible that very late 68's came with the newer rectangular and oval head C/D keys?
My date code is 12 C 68 [3rd week December 1968?]

I have noticed elsewhere blank keys being listed as NOS, yet don't have either 'Briggs and Stratton' or 'Rochester Products Division' stamped into the head. I would have expected original factory blanks to still quote the manufacturer   ???

Comments appreciated

btw, exactly when did production stop for the 68 Camaro, give or take a week?
Rob
1968 12C SS
L34/M40
12 bolt posi 3.55

gro51

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Re: 68 Camaro ignition and trunk keys
« Reply #1 on: April 28, 2006, 02:04:28 PM »
I'm pretty sure the hex head keys would be correct for all 68's even late ones.   Can anyone confirm this?  I bought a couple sets from Classic Industries last fall.  They had "Briggs and Stratton" on them.  Make sure you order the ones that are listed as "early style" , part # k111 and k112.  The ones shown in the picture in their catalog are for a 67 and say "GM".  Sorry, can't help you with the production date question.
Joe
Schodack, NY

'68 SS/RS 350, M21, 3:73, Rallye Green, Black Deluxe Interior

My68SS

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Re: 68 Camaro ignition and trunk keys
« Reply #2 on: April 28, 2006, 02:38:02 PM »
Hey thanks for he info.
Quote
I bought a couple sets from Classic Industries last fall.  They had "Briggs and Stratton" on them.
interesting, were they quoted as NOS or exact repro's?
Rob
1968 12C SS
L34/M40
12 bolt posi 3.55

gro51

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Re: 68 Camaro ignition and trunk keys
« Reply #3 on: April 28, 2006, 05:01:50 PM »
It doesn't say in the catalog.  You might want to call them and ask.  If they are repros, I can tell you that they look great!
Joe
Schodack, NY

'68 SS/RS 350, M21, 3:73, Rallye Green, Black Deluxe Interior

rich69rs

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Re: 68 Camaro ignition and trunk keys
« Reply #4 on: April 28, 2006, 09:15:50 PM »
I'd be amazed if they were NOS.
Richard Thomas
1969 RS

My68SS

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Re: 68 Camaro ignition and trunk keys
« Reply #5 on: April 28, 2006, 10:02:47 PM »
True, but they must be punched out under licence from Briggs and Stratton [and GM], if not by B & R themselves?
If they are punched by B & R then that would quaify them as new genuine re-issues?
Rob
1968 12C SS
L34/M40
12 bolt posi 3.55

rich69rs

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Re: 68 Camaro ignition and trunk keys
« Reply #6 on: April 28, 2006, 10:31:21 PM »
Yes - the same as any other part currently being manufactured using original tooling, etc.   Key words being "re-issue".  NOS (new old stock) or (new original stock) implies new (never been installed) pieces and parts that were manufactured "back in the day".
« Last Edit: April 28, 2006, 10:36:25 PM by rich69rs »
Richard Thomas
1969 RS

lakeholme

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Re: 68 Camaro ignition and trunk keys
« Reply #7 on: April 29, 2006, 12:00:38 AM »
67 & 68 Camaros were in production from September to July.  69 ran to November, thanks to the delay in the 70 model.  There is a VIN report in CRG General Information:
http://www.camaros.org/geninfo.shtml#When
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My68SS

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Re: 68 Camaro ignition and trunk keys
« Reply #8 on: April 29, 2006, 01:24:31 PM »
Ah ok, so mine was built 3rd week of December 1967, and would definitely have come with hex keys.

Yup, I see a lot of stuff on ebay being listed as NOS when it's clearly not, and they're not just using NOS as a keyword either.
Rob
1968 12C SS
L34/M40
12 bolt posi 3.55

JohnZ

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Re: 68 Camaro ignition and trunk keys
« Reply #9 on: April 29, 2006, 04:09:05 PM »
Ah ok, so mine was built 3rd week of December 1967, and would definitely have come with hex keys.

Yup, I see a lot of stuff on ebay being listed as NOS when it's clearly not, and they're not just using NOS as a keyword either.

That's because NOS (new old stock - production parts) and NORS (new old replacement stock - service replacement parts made later) are two different things, and sellers hope buyers don't know the difference, so sellers just call anything that looks new as "NOS". If you don't know exactly what you're looking for, chances are slim to none that you'll get "NOS" parts. They may be functionally equivalent, but won't necessarily look the same.
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lakeholme

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Re: 68 Camaro ignition and trunk keys
« Reply #10 on: April 29, 2006, 04:31:20 PM »
According to the Cherolet Motor Division, all Chevy 68 ignition and door lock keys were hexagon head, part # 7034680, and they cost you 12 cents plus tax.  ::)
« Last Edit: April 30, 2006, 01:23:03 AM by lakeholme »
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gro51

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Re: 68 Camaro ignition and trunk keys
« Reply #11 on: April 29, 2006, 10:35:24 PM »
I'm confused.  Did the '68 hex keys originally say "GM" or "Briggs and Stratton"?
Joe
Schodack, NY

'68 SS/RS 350, M21, 3:73, Rallye Green, Black Deluxe Interior

westonz28

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Re: 68 Camaro ignition and trunk keys
« Reply #12 on: April 29, 2006, 10:46:48 PM »
GM on one side and Briggs & Stratton on the other side.
67 RS L30/M20 numbers, 68 BB 396 12 bolt posi
68 Z28 project, 68 numbers 327/210 4 speed
69 LM1 turbo 350 12 bolt numbers,70 L65 350
68 Chevelle L30 3 on the tree, 68 El Camino BB

My68SS

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Re: 68 Camaro ignition and trunk keys
« Reply #13 on: April 30, 2006, 02:38:27 AM »
yeah, see here for the key run-down  http://www.camaros.org/keysandlocks.shtml

oh lol!! hey Lakeholme, I was just about to quote you and reply to  something u said about the B & S early keys listed in Classic's catalog and you edited it out of your post  :)
I couldn't see the caviate that you quoted
Rob
1968 12C SS
L34/M40
12 bolt posi 3.55

lakeholme

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Re: 68 Camaro ignition and trunk keys
« Reply #14 on: April 30, 2006, 03:18:28 AM »
Sorry, did not mean to "cut you off".  I was just picking up on your original post about "early style" and JohnZ's reply about NOS.
Actually, I was referring to the replacement keys that are NOT "early style".  (You really have to hunt for the "early style" in their online store.) They give this disclaimer in the online store for their "replacement keys": "Note: 1967-68 keys are later model design and will work but do not resemble the early model Briggs and Stratton keys. Genuine GM Replacements."
But you guys had already covered it, so I dropped it from the post. 
That does explain, however, why many of us are walking around with E/F keys to start our 68s. I was given two sets of keys for my 68 by the seller.  He said, "One set is the original."  But both are actually E/F replacements.
Thanks for reminding us of Rich's report.  It's interesting that keys changed that much in the late 60s.  Sign of the times...
And thanks for an enlightening thread! ;D

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My68SS

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Re: 68 Camaro ignition and trunk keys
« Reply #15 on: April 30, 2006, 07:05:02 AM »
Quote
That does explain, however, why many of us are walking around with E/F keys to start our 68s.
Can't make that add up, EH [i think you meant H, not F] shoudn't fit a 68 or 67, different key groove positions, or did you meant the EH style key with the rectangular/oval head but with CD grooving?
Only CD grooving should fit 68 locks.

The original 67 - 68 B & S hex keys are listed on page 149 of the current Classic Industries catalog, which is an enormous pdf file, now 138MB in size @ 932 pages!!
Rob
1968 12C SS
L34/M40
12 bolt posi 3.55

lakeholme

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Re: 68 Camaro ignition and trunk keys
« Reply #16 on: April 30, 2006, 12:18:13 PM »
Yep, "H" and "the EH style key with the rectangular/oval head but with CD grooving..."
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gro51

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Re: 68 Camaro ignition and trunk keys
« Reply #17 on: April 30, 2006, 02:38:08 PM »
The original 67 - 68 B & S hex keys are listed on page 149 of the current Classic Industries catalog, which is an enormous pdf file, now 138MB in size @ 932 pages!!
Quote

So, the early style ones from Classic would say GM on one side (as pictured on pg. 149) and then Briggs and Stratton on the other?  Is that correct?  But I'm still unclear if these are ORIGINAL or REPRO?   If they are REPRO is this the best we can do?  Or does someone know if ORIGINAL ones are available somewhere?   Thanks.
Joe
Schodack, NY

'68 SS/RS 350, M21, 3:73, Rallye Green, Black Deluxe Interior

My68SS

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Re: 68 Camaro ignition and trunk keys
« Reply #18 on: April 30, 2006, 08:35:57 PM »
Quote
So, the early style ones from Classic would say GM on one side (as pictured on pg. 149) and then Briggs and Stratton on the other?
Didn't you say earlier in this thread that that is what you got from Classic, GM stamped one side and Briggs and Stratton on the other??

Quote
But I'm still unclear if these are ORIGINAL or REPRO?

I could not class them as repro if they do have Briggs and Stratton on one side and the GM trademark on the other side,
For a product to carry a manufacturers name and/or trademark it has to be at the very least done under licence from the owner/s of those names/trademarks, if manufactured by a 3rd party.

They don't qualify as NOS, only keys struck back in 67-68 would qualify as NOS, but they would qualify as reissues, or maybe even genuine reissues if the original B & S dies are being used to mint the heads by a 3rd party.
Definitely would qualify as genuine reissues if B & S are punching them out.
Rob
1968 12C SS
L34/M40
12 bolt posi 3.55

copo

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Re: 68 Camaro ignition and trunk keys
« Reply #19 on: April 30, 2006, 08:52:13 PM »
There is a company called www.jessersclassickeys.com that is advertises nos keys. I bought some nos keys for my 69 camaro, he can also stamp the key codes on the knock outs like the how the keys would have came from the factory when the car was new.

My68SS

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Re: 68 Camaro ignition and trunk keys
« Reply #20 on: May 01, 2006, 08:23:42 PM »
There is a company called www.jessersclassickeys.com that is advertises nos keys. I bought some nos keys for my 69 camaro, he can also stamp the key codes on the knock outs like the how the keys would have came from the factory when the car was new.

Hey good stuff, but none of their links [buttons] lead anywhere??? or do you have to sign up to even browse the site?? Tried sending an email to them via their web mail and it was returned to me as undeliverable??
Rob
1968 12C SS
L34/M40
12 bolt posi 3.55

gro51

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Re: 68 Camaro ignition and trunk keys
« Reply #21 on: May 02, 2006, 02:23:23 PM »
I tried them too.  No Luck.  In the mean time, I found another set of hex keys for my '68.  I  got them in the mid 80's from NPD I think.  They say GM on BOTH sides, but I don't know if they are repros or not.
Joe
Schodack, NY

'68 SS/RS 350, M21, 3:73, Rallye Green, Black Deluxe Interior

JohnZ

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Re: 68 Camaro ignition and trunk keys
« Reply #22 on: May 02, 2006, 04:13:20 PM »
There is a company called www.jessersclassickeys.com that is advertises nos keys. I bought some nos keys for my 69 camaro, he can also stamp the key codes on the knock outs like the how the keys would have came from the factory when the car was new.

Hey good stuff, but none of their links [buttons] lead anywhere??? or do you have to sign up to even browse the site?? Tried sending an email to them via their web mail and it was returned to me as undeliverable??

Joey's pretty busy, and not much for e-mails - use the phone and call him. His work is pricey, but perfect; his keys pass NCRS judging every time.
'69 Z/28
Fathom Green
CRG

My68SS

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Re: 68 Camaro ignition and trunk keys
« Reply #23 on: May 02, 2006, 05:29:20 PM »
Quote
His work is pricey, but perfect


So is it nos, or 'nos like' repro's that he does under licence? or are they nos blanks but code cut using a punch machine instead of a milling machine to cut the bittings
« Last Edit: May 02, 2006, 05:32:56 PM by My68SS »
Rob
1968 12C SS
L34/M40
12 bolt posi 3.55