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Saturday....

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J

jessebogan

Jedi Knight
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So, some new folks (stone mason company) bought a property across the street from my shop back in January. On the property when they bought it were bunch of decrepit semi trailers, scrap metal and a few cars. I hooked them up with a scrap guy I know, and in return, they gave me an 88 T bird turbo coupe. No keys, of course. So, I explored having it re keyed by the local lock wizards. First, I pulled the door lock (same as Ign key), and glove box lock (same as trunk). The locksmith tells me that neither will work, as the ignition lock and trunk lock both use 4 or 5 additional tumblers in the lock. Great. They offered, if I removed the entire steering column, to pick the lock, and re key it, for around $110.00. This would require getting under the car to disconnect the shaft from the rack. The steering is locked (natch), and the car was dropped by the tow truck at the most impossible location to use a jack and move it in. Mind you, I have no idea if this thing runs, or is anything other than a parts car. So, I had the brilliant idea to just remove the ignition lock, and replace it with a new one, so I can dump a battery in, and see what happens. So, first, the cordless drill.(following directions from Algores amazing internet, posted by someone that had presumably done this on the same car....). Then the 1/2 inch heavy duty drill, die grinders, small chisels, a lot of creative swearing, and 2 hours of my life I will never get back, success. Holy Cow, I cannot believe how difficult it was to get the old lock out without damaging the remainder of the column. Even newish cars like mid 90s Jags are nowhere near this difficult... I hope the car is in decent shape after all of this, but if this is the way things are gonna go on it, Craigs List Here It Comes. I should just stick to the LBCs I know and love.
 
That little hardened steel pin is a true stinker. not only is it hardened, but it just sits loosely in the metal spring clip, so as you try and drill it, it just spins.
My favored method of removing those cylinders is to thread a largish screw into the key slot, then a few good raps with my big slide hammer connected to the screw usually manages to break that little pin without damaging the column.
Best of luck with the T-bird.
 
Now that was good info. Unfortunately, the poster on the T bird forums was unaware of that little fact. According to that poster it was simple and took about half an hour... So, I was out in the rain doing this wondering why I bothered... So today to make up for the misery, I am going to install a Judson Supercharger on a really nice TD for a customer I like. Looks like more fun for me...
 
First, there is no rest for the wicked... Second, why have a life when you can have a (very) small business, and finally, and perhaps most important, today it is REALLY quiet in here, so I can actually get something done.
 
I feel your pain - I thought things like that only happened
to those of us less mechanicly inclined.

- Doug
 
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