Early A door and ignition locks

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Princess Valiant

Princess Valiant

A.K.A. Rainy Day Auto
Joined
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Are new lock cylinders that hard to find for early As??

I would like to lock down my 63 valiant but it seems like replacement door and ignition locks do not exist anymore???
 
New Door locks for the 65 and earlier models (A, B and full size) are quite hard to find and expensive when you do. Rekeying used ones is not the easiest either as the spring cover is a press fit and and doesn't tend to stay in place after being removed. It might be easier to adapt the lock opening in the door to accept the easy to find and rekey the 66 and later locks.
 
I think there is one in the yard I go to, want me to look? Also what years fit?
 
I have a few sets without keys if you need em!! Nothing for the tailgate lock unless it's the same as a trunk lock! Do you know if you should have the crowned door locks, or the flat style??
 
Early A/B/C lock kits are available thru Kramer Automotive.Call and you will get Cindy on the phone.She knows her stuff. I got my locks for my 63 Fury this summer.
 
These came out of a 65 Barracuda!! Notice the crown style on the door locks, and the offset key hole on the trunk lock! There are a number of different styles back then!

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Ignition lock cylinder is same for '60-'68. The '66-'72 trunk lock cylinder will fit and work in your '63. New door locks for the pre-'66 cars are difficult and costly. You can upgrade to the easy-and-cheap-to-buy '66-up locks without much difficulty; see thread here.
 
Thank you slantsixdan, Cosgig .. I knew there had to be a way to do this :thumbsup:
 
slantsixdan said:
Ignition lock cylinder is same for '60-'68. The '66-'72 trunk lock cylinder will fit and work in your '63. New door locks for the pre-'66 cars are difficult and costly. You can upgrade to the easy-and-cheap-to-buy '66-up locks without much difficulty; see thread here.
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Thanks for the link, Dan, and I liked the mention of Greenlee chassis punches. They are awesome, but are becoming somewhat expensive these days. I first became aware of them when I was a kid, got my ham radio license, and wanted to build some radios that required punching round holes in a steel radio chassis. A Greeenlee punch can actually cut a perfect hole in a hardened steel bumper(!) (to mount a trailer electrical connector, for example), but it is important to grease the cutting edges of the punch up well before punching the hole. The grease makes the punch cut through the steel much easier.
 
Rainy Day Auto said:
Are new lock cylinders that hard to find for early As??

I would like to lock down my 63 valiant but it seems like replacement door and ignition locks do not exist anymore???
Click to expand...

I have some door locks but no keys for them you could take them to a lock Smith and have some keys made..
Earl
 
Yes, I have had a local locksmith key some awhile back.
 
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