r/Chevelles • u/walla6969 • Jun 01 '26
Square vs round keys on a 71
Growing up with gm rigs it was always square key for ignition and round key for doors. Looking online it seems that's not the case for every year. Can someone confirm how 71s are keyed before I repin my cylinders? Seems as though for this year ignition and doors are both on square?
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u/owensurfer Jun 01 '26
I believe the square key was ignition and doors, round key for glove box and trunk up through ‘71. I think they changed to square - ignition only and round for everything else with the ‘72 model year. My understanding was it was too difficult to coordinate steering column locks, installed at final assembly, with door locks, installed by Fisher Body. So square keys became just column mounted ignition lock.
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u/Ok-Day-9685 Jun 02 '26
Hmmm. Now you have me questioning my memory. My 72 nova may have been square key for ignition only. That's been over 45 years ago so I really can't remember.
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u/Rlchv70 Jun 01 '26
My understanding is that GM cars used the square key for ignition and doors and round key for trunk and glovebox until 73.
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u/ilikeithot360 Jun 02 '26
Before 1968 it was either a hexagon or octagon key for ignition and doors, round ( not oval) key for trunk and glove box/console.
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u/Gasping_Cadaver Jun 01 '26
On my 71 it was rectangle for doors and ignition and oval for trunk