• Hi Guest!
    If you appreciate British Car Forum and our 25 years of supporting British car enthusiasts with technical and anicdotal information, collected from our thousands of great members, please support us with a low-cost subscription. You can become a supporting member for less than the dues of most car clubs.
    There are some perks with a member upgrade!
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this gawd-aweful banner
Tips
Tips

Spitfire Spitfire key/locks?

Share this page

frankenstang57

frankenstang57

Jedi Warrior
Offline
Question for you guys about locks on a Spitfire. Is it one key fits the ignition and doors or was it multiple? I'm to the point on my JPS to install the steering column. I never got a key with my donor car. I swapped out the column with a one from a '74 to test drive it before I disassembled it. I had to jumper a bunch of wires since they changed the wiring harnesses between '73-4. Anyone ever remove a ignition lock without a key? I haven't really looked at it yet, just looking for some inputs!
 
On the later Spits it is one key for both door and ignition. I think the same for '74. A separate smaller key for bootlid lock.

You can get the ignition lock out without a key. Triumph protected the ignition lock by using 'break-away' hex-bolts (shear-bolts) that hold the lock in place under the steering column. To get them out you need to either drill a hole in them and use an easy-out, or get a chisel or something to drive and loosen them or make a slot for a screwdriver.

Once these bolts are out the ignition switch and lock drop out together.

I think earlier models (with the key and lock down to the right in a separate shroud) you may have to drop the steering column to get at the shear-bolts, because I think they come through from the top. On later models where the key goes in higher on the rh side, I think you should be able to get at the lock bolts from underneath.
 
Back
Top