There is a small pin in the lower shaft almost to the end where it goes into that latch. You can see it in this picture.
Forty plus? years ago I needed a similar Chevy handle rekeyed and the "old" (far younger than me now) local locksmith took it as a challenge, a few days later he had it ready...I think he had to drill in "just the right spot" to get it disassembled to rekey. I hope my memory isn't failing me.....that's my story and I am sticking to it The sad story is that locksmith retired, another guy took over and he died a couple of years ago and he was in his 80's.
Maybe something here will lead you down the right path. https://www.locksmithledger.com/loc...le/10228044/a-look-back-at-vintage-auto-locks You may have to scroll about half way down the page to find something helpful.
parts manual, http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/parts/1929_54/545.htm My '37 Chevrolet truck has a four digit key code stamped on the outer chrome handle, it's only visible when out of the door. My locksmith made a key off this code.
Cool… on the one lock handle I can get to , it indeed has a four digit number stamped into it. Maybe this will work out. Thanks.
Ok…making progress. I drove out the small pin and the tumbler assembly slid out easily. FYI- the key code is stamped in two places. On the shaft of the handle itself and also on the shaft of the tumbler assembly. Now I’d like to disassemble the tumbler, but not seeing a way forward. Anybody have a clue?
if it were a GM sidebar tumbler, then you could use these instructions http://selectric.org/manuals/locks/index.html but I suspect it is something else.
I’m not sure what a “side bar” tumbler is? But the tumbler has a “bar” imbedded in its side (see earlier pic). Tried prying it out gently, but scared of boogering it up. Maybe I need to use more oomph?
This is a sidebar lock. It works quite differently from a normal wafer type lock, which is shown below: Perhaps if you take a few more pictures of the lock cylinder, showing all sides of it, as well as the keyhole, we might be able to help you figure it out. But I don't think it's a 1939 GM lock cylinder.
Ah shit Squirrel... thats the second time you told me this doesn't look like a 39 GM lock cylinder... and crap...I uploaded the wrong pic.. my bad. I'm out on date night with mama now, so I'll fix my F up tomorrow. I see what you mean though. The handle is identical, but the cylinder is different. Mine has the little slide door thing covering the hole.
I had my locks rebuilt by a locksmith - who also had NOS keys, super easy, only cost a few peanuts. Just my 10 cents
The pic originally included was a trunk handle, which I was considering buying. These pics are of my actual door handles. One was in the passenger door and another identical handle was in a box of stuff that came with the car. I snapped a couple pics showing the cylinder details. I’m thinking I need to remove the brass bar imbedded in the side? ..but don’t want to booger it.
pages 4 and 5 in my link above show the lock being taken apart, but it's a different type of lock, so it comes apart differently. I don't remember how the one you have comes apart...I think you have to uncrimp the chrome cover over the end, then deal with the spring as you pull the tumbler out of the main housing. Why do you want to take them apart? Do you want to set the locks to work with a key you already have? or do you just want to make a key that fits one of them? You can make a key from the number, using the info in the link I posted above. It's going to take a while to get the hang of it, but it's a fun way to while away a few days. Get a bunch of B1 key blanks first.
The two handles have different key codes. The plan was to have keys cut for one of them and then have the other keyed to match. I remember about 40 years ago disassembling a car lock and filing the little tumblers…but I’ll be damned if I remember why…lol. Old age sucks that way. I was considering trying to key match it myself.
I had the chrome cover off one of them to fix the little door, which was stuck open. All I saw there was the recesses for the “door plate” and two tiny springs. There is a big spring down in the cylinder hole that keeps tension on the entire cylinder.
You do have to take it apart more to get to the tumblers, so let us know how that goes, please. Or if you ckicken out and bring it to a locksmith, do they still remember how the old ones work? It's been a long time since I had a 1939 GM, and I don't think I ever got the tumblers out on that one. My memory also gets old. But I've played with lots of the ignition lock cylinders, rekeyed them to match the door locks, etc
Ok, after staring at this thing all morning, I’m thinking I need a key to rotate it for disassembly. I found a guy on eBay that will cut a key set with the code number for $9.50 and free shipping. Should be here next week. I’ll keep you posted.
If you take pictures of all sides of the lock cylinder, maybe we could see if there is a stamped metal cover over the springs, like the ignition lock cylinders have? That's what you have to remove to work on the lock.
Check out the pics from earlier. There is no stamped metal cover. There is a brass bar on one side and 90 degrees from that bar are two and a half holes. The brass bar looks substantial and isn’t a cover. No other clues.
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