Lost trunk key to -71 300, advise wanted

[Hansson72]

I have lost my keys to the trunk on my 1971 300. When i bought the car a couple of years ago i had an extra set of spare keys made. But the new trunk key didn't work and I thougt well well i will fix that some day. That "some day" never came I have now lost the orginal trunk key.
To make it even more "delicate" the trunk i fully loaded with cushions for the garden furniture.....
So its impossible (for the daughter)to get to the trunk lock through the back seat.
So now my question is..... How do I work my way into the trunk without damageing the trunk lid.
I realize that the lock has to go, but how. Drill like like a maniac into the lock and hope for best or is there some better way?

 

[polara71]

Push harder on the cushions

 

[Big_John]

Take the car to a lock smith and have them open it. Be sure to give them the bad key as that will be a place to start.

 

[Carmine]

Take the car to a lock smith and have them open it. Be sure to give them the bad key as that will be a place to start.

Yup. That key cylinder isn't exactly Fort Knox, and your incorrect key is probably fairly close.

 

[Big_John]

Just for the sake of trying it... I'd take the new key and try wiggling it around, pulling it in and out etc. and see if it worked. Chances are it isn't off that much....

 

[Badvert65]

Back around 1980, when I first got my 65 Fury, my neighbor had a 76 Dart. We were goofing around one day and discovered his trunk key would open my trunk-they had exactly the same cut on them. It was weird, but true.

 

[Ripinator]

I have lost my keys to the trunk on my 1971 300. When i bought the car a couple of years ago i had an extra set of spare keys made. But the new trunk key didn't work and I thougt well well i will fix that some day. That "some day" never came I have now lost the orginal trunk key.
To make it even more "delicate" the trunk i fully loaded with cushions for the garden furniture.....
So its impossible (for the daughter)to get to the trunk lock through the back seat.
So now my question is..... How do I work my way into the trunk without damageing the trunk lid.
I realize that the lock has to go, but how. Drill like like a maniac into the lock and hope for best or is there some better way?

One other thing: If you plan to take the car to a locksmith, DO NOT PUT ANY graphite or other lube in the lock. That makes it impossible for the locksmith to obtain and "read" the scratches on an inserted key blank.

 

[Mr C]

Back around 1980, when I first got my 65 Fury, my neighbor had a 76 Dart. We were goofing around one day and discovered his trunk key would open my trunk-they had exactly the same cut on them. It was weird, but true.

Funny and true...only so many combinations for the keys. My daughters 78 Volare ignition key works on my 89 5th Ave and vice versa.

 

[traintech55]

You could also try using a ratchet, 1/2 inch socket, and two long extensions . You should be able to remove the latch that way.

 

[Hansson72]

Just for the sake of trying it... I'd take the new key and try wiggling it around, pulling it in and out etc. and see if it worked. Chances are it isn't off that much....

Ohh i have been trying wiggeling for att least 15 min with forces in different directions.... no luck with that

 

[Hansson72]

You could also try using a ratchet, 1/2 inch socket, and two long extensions . You should be able to remove the latch that way.

Ahh you meen reaching in and removing the latch from the backseat?

 

[Carmine]

Ahh you meen reaching in and removing the latch from the backseat?

I would have said same, but you said something about couch cushions or a homeless dude in the trunk?

 

[Jeff]

How important are those cushions? It seems like they cut be cut apart to give access.

 

[Samplingman]

This is a lot simpler than 13 posts worth, even with stuff and homeless people in the trunk. Remove the back seat, use a long screwdriver reach in and twist the cylinder. Done.

 

[stubs300]

This is a lot simpler than 13 posts worth, even with stuff and homeless people in the trunk. Remove the back seat, use a long screwdriver reach in and twist the cylinder. Done.

Some people just have to complicate things, ya know?

 

[Ripinator]

This is a lot simpler than 13 posts worth, even with stuff and homeless people in the trunk. Remove the back seat, use a long screwdriver reach in and twist the cylinder. Done.

Well. . . There is still more to it. . . You hafta hold your tongue at a certain angle inside your cheek as you insert the screwdriver into the lock.

 

[Samplingman]

Well. . . There is still more to it. . . You hafta hold your tongue at a certain angle inside your cheek as you insert the screwdriver into the lock.

That goes without saying.

 

[Ripinator]

That goes without saying.

Yes, but. . . We are now up to eighteen posts on this topic.

 

[Big_John]

Yea, but ....

The assumptions are:
1. The trunk is too full to get at the latch and the cushions can't be pulled/pushed out of the way.
2. The contents are too big to be pulled through the rear seat.
3. The OP is smart enough to consider all options about getting to the latch from the back seat before posting.

 

[Big_John]

I would have said same, but you said something about couch cushions or a homeless dude in the trunk?

^this^