Getting into locked glovebox

B

B-ster

Senior Member
My 54 Lincoln came with no keys and the glovebox is locked. I took a door lock to a locksmith and got keys made for doors and ignition but glovebox is different. How can I get into it? Can imagine some interesting things in there after sitting for 57 years
 
My Ford's glove box door hinge has three screws that are easily accessed from underneath. Yours isn't? The lock is the same as the door keys.
 
The locksmith said the glovebox and trunk are the same, different from the doors. If the hinge screws are undone, will the lock keep it from opening?
 
My trunk and doors use the same key. I'm pretty sure the glovebox door will drop vertically enough for the lock latch to disengage.
 
If the trunk is open, taking the lock from it to a lock smith for a key may fix your problem with the glove box. The glove box and trunk key were usually the same on a Ford.
 
Back in the day, a person could get matched lock sets from FoMoCo parts counters. Door and ignition cylinders with keys & trunk and glove compartment cylinders with keys for a full compliment. The key sets had a little round disk that had the code for the keys on it.

This temporary link has an example:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1154655584...Ch7nzXAfGVauSBuGZX6fT5JXg=|tkp:Bk9SR6D-58GIYg

The little key ring disk generally has a cross bar instead of just a hole in it. The cross bar had the code stamped on, This is from my memory of them and it ain't what it used to be.

Another similar link illustrates my memory of the little disk.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2848868966...8XN5pfiywzDsr720zzJTnNCg==|tkp:Bk9SR6L-58GIYg
 
Last edited:
paul2748 said:
If the trunk is open, taking the lock from it to a lock smith for a key may fix your problem with the glove box. The glove box and trunk key were usually the same on a Ford.
Click to expand...

My trunk, doors and glovebox all use the same key. I'm guessing the lock is stuck or it came from another vehicle.
 
There are no screws showing on the bottom of the glovebox door so that idea is out. There's no trunk lock to get a key made from. Door key won't work. I tried. I think all I can do is go thru the back and try tripping the latch. Any advice how to do that?
 
Do you have any other old style Ford keys to try? Jiggle them around a bit. Last glove compartment lock I took apart from the 50"s only used 3 tumblers. A locksmith could probably pic it in short time. By chance do you have 2 numbers scratched on the cowl under the hood? Dealers around here would do that with key codes to save time looking up customer records and just punch them up a key from the numbers. Maybe just a regional thing though.
 
Hate to see you cut up an original glove box. Might be worth purchasing your own set of lock picks and a six pack of beer. You don't need lots of picks, a set of 6 would be plenty along with the lever tool. It is not as easy as you see on tv but can be done.
 
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Steve in Denver said:
Hate to see you cut up an original glove box. Might be worth purchasing your own set of lock picks and a six pack of beer. You don't need lots of picks, a set of 6 would be plenty along with the lever tool. It is not as easy as you see on tv but can be done.
Click to expand...

As Steve says above, best outcome is getting the lock to open without cutting up the glove box.

I know it's not a '54 Lincoln, but the box in my '56 T Bird was shot...it's cardboard...more or less...and the replacements aren't that expensive. Hoping if it comes to that, you can get a new one for your '54 .
 
Once you get the lock out, put the cylinder only in a can for 1 week with penetrating oil covering the cylinder. NOT WD-40. Then take it out wipe it, see if it will rotate. If not the pins may very likely just be frozen. Start by taking your hand and slamming it on the workbench. Kind of a serious high-five motion. Keep it up for a while, and the pins will free. I have seen a locksmith shop do this to my 1957 Cadillac once, and it worked just fine.
 
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