I am in the process of changing my t-top locks (previous owner installed some mismatched glass t-tops from a Firebird) on my 91 Camaro. I thought about going to a locksmith and getting the locks made for my regular key or just getting keys for the different locks, but I have decided to just get a new set. I am just wondering if anyone knows of a good place to get a set of t-top locks. The only company I can find that sells them so far are Classic Industries at $50 for the set. Any suggestions?

 

I'm curious about this, too; my IROC is getting a brand-new set of GM t-tops and I don't think that it'd be very cool to have one key for the tops and one for the doors. It would detract from the restoration.

- 89_IROC

 

There are places that can match the locks to your key but it costs

 

If you still have your old locks, transplanting lock from T-Top A to T-Top B is simple, take all the bits off covering (3 screws then the handle), Drill out the 2 rivets, take off the top plate, then the clip holding it in.

Put your old lock back on, clip, rivet or simply use screws (might have to grind one short) the plate and reassemble, voila!

 

Take the car (or locks) to your local locksmith, explain what you want in the end, and they can re-key the existing locks so that they all match.

I went through something similiar when I bought my TA. My key would not work in my door locks, only the rear hatch and t-tops. And the rear hatch lock was messed up, missing the cover. Thought I could take care of it myself, so I ordered new door locks and the rear hatch lock to replace them, but they had different keys. That would have given me 4 different keys to my car, ignition, t-tops, doors, & rear hatch. Then someone told me that I could have a locksmith 're-key' those new locks to match. Went to the locksmith, and ended up having him re-key all the new locks to match the original key (which worked in the t-tops), as well as having him fix the storage door lock inside the rear hatch which also did not work. He rekeyed all these locks, and it actually ended up being much cheaper than replacing the locks. And he said that I should have brought him the original door locks, and he could have re-keyed them instead of me having to buy new ones. Would have been much cheaper. Oh well, live & learn.

 

I was considering this, but both of the locks for the T-tops basically fell to pieces once I took them out. The previous owner got them from a junkyard and the junkyard messed up the internals and locks a little bit trying to make locking t-tops non-locking t-tops . The locks are basically junk now. I don't mind getting new ones, it's cheap insurance.

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone.

 

I actually plan on keeping a different key that only work on my t-tops. This way I can leave that key inside the center console at all times and if i'm driving I don't have to shut the car off to pop the tops on and lock them down to continue driving. It sounds like the locksmith is your best bet though.

 

The locksmith I used said that the entire cylinder can be replaced if needed. As long as the outer housing is in good shape, it may be still be repairable for less than buying new.

 

I think what I might do is try to find some used ones and get those rekeyed. The arms on the locks that prevent the T-tops from releasing when locked are both bent, too.

 

GM use to offer a sheild kit that bolted up to the t-top handle.. they take one of those barrel keys to open and totally covers the t-top handle when locked on