Lost Keys

[gjc12]

So after letting my project f100 sit all summer (hey, it's hot working in the garage when it's 100 outside!) I now realize that I can't find the key. The doors are unlocked so I can get in, but how do I go about fixing this horrible act of negligence?

I figure I can buy a new key/tumbler/ignition, but can I get the old ignition switch out without the old key? I believe the key is only needed to remove the tumbler but I'm not 100% sure. And what about the doors?

When I bought the truck it came with only one key, and in hindsight I should've made 10 copies and hid them from myself all over the house to prevent something like this.

[72hiboy4x4]

unscrew the bezel and remove the whole switch. unplug and replace. about $12??

[ToughOldFord]

Pull the ignition and take it to a locksmith. It's a little over $20 to have a key made.

[67F250CS]

If your truck is anything like mine, I found out that just about any FORD key would start it up. My Escort key worked. My Sable key almost worked but its shaped a little different. Try another old key and you might find one that works.

[splavin90]

If your truck is anything like mine, I found out that just about any FORD key would start it up. My Escort key worked. My Sable key almost worked but its shaped a little different. Try another old key and you might find one that works.

sounds like your ignition is punched.

i punched a spair ignition of mine

[Leadfoot]

when I do some smart like loose my keys I use my plastic master lockout key, almost every 87 up ford had them. and you can get them at most autowreckers be going through the glove box/owners manual. I just insert and turn then go get the plastic one copied.

[fordman]

yes thats called impressioning the lock. you can also do that with soot on a blank key on padlocks.

[jor]

When you remove the ignition switch, be sure and disconnect the negative cable on your battery first. If you don't, you may be treated to a nice spark or smoke your wiring loom. These trucks are very easy to hotwire, btw, if you need to take it somewhere.
jor

[gjc12]

Thanks for all the info everyone. Looks like LMC has the ignition plus door locks for $80 which is more than I'd like to spend, so maybe I'll investigate the locksmith route first. Thanks!

And yes, I'll definitely disconnect the battery first. When I first got the truck I was messing with the tumbler and ended up smoking the fusible link.

[fordman]

i almost forgot you can take dor just the door lock if its the same as the ignition and its easier for the locksmith to get your key made.

[kid]

unscrew the bezel and remove the whole switch. unplug and replace. about $12??

You can't unscrew the bezel while the tumblers are in they fit over the edge and stop thieves from doing just that.

[fordman]

yea you can the outer bezel screws right off with no problems i might be tight at first but it screws right off. i've done it several times to different trucks.

[kknip]

I have unscrewed mine a couple of times when I was having some wiring issues.I took two pocket screw drivers,hooked them in the notches and crossed them over each other to turn.The door locks are easy to remove also.I would see how much a locksmith would charge to make a key if you took him the ign switch or a door lock switch.

[ToughOldFord]

I found out the hard way that using the door lock to make a new ignition key isn't a good idea. I lost the key to my '92 and since that ignition is in the column I did that very thing, took the door lock to the locksmith thinking they use the same key then they must be the same. I even told the locksmith what I was doing and why. When I picked the lock and keys up he then tells me "by the way, those keys won't work in your ignition." Seems the ignition switch has a couple of more tumblers that the door locks don't have. They do this to prevent someone from being clever and steeling someone's vehicle the easy way. Obviously this jerk wanted my money so he didn't bother to tell me when I dropped the lock off.
Of course, there's no telling when they started this, it might not even apply to 60's and 70's trucks.

[fordman]

i think they started that in 81. the door locks are like the cars now. the key is different in the way the two sides of it are made. so the newer trucks take two keys now. i tried to get a key for a 81 by takuing the door locks to a locksmith and that is what he told me. so i have to get a whole new switch or get hime to impression it to get a key.