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Mustang Keys

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mustang5L5
  • Start date Start date Nov 11, 2017
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Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
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Nov 11, 2017
#1
  • Nov 11, 2017
  • #1
So I have an original set of keys to my mustang, but they are pretty worn. I'd like to cut a new set out of NOS key blanks.

Problem is I see two styles.

This is what I have



But I've also seen this style door lock key



I can't find any clear info on the breakdown of what style key is original to what years. Was it random?
 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
Mod Dude
Aug 25, 2016
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#2
  • Nov 11, 2017
  • #2
What year is it?
I don't remember
 

HotFox

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SE Michigan
Nov 11, 2017
#3
  • Nov 11, 2017
  • #3
My 85 had a oval key but a square ignition key like in the first picture. My 92 had keys like above when I got it that were well wore. I bought the LMR pony ones as my spare set.
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,291
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Nov 11, 2017
#4
  • Nov 11, 2017
  • #4
Mine is an '88

I bought these to cut, but I keep seeing cars with the fat oval style door key and wonder what the year breakdown was.



I could have sworn I had a buddy with a stock, clean '89 GT with the fat key
 

Noobz347

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor
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#5
  • Nov 11, 2017
  • #5
You need the oval ones.

Gimme a sec, I think I can validate that too.
 

Noobz347

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor
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#6
  • Nov 11, 2017
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The oval keys are for door and trunk. The square are for ignition.

You can see that the blades on the blanks are reversed.

There are keys that exist that will do both (one key for all) but you have to notch it and remember which way it goes into the door and which way into the ignition. I have one of these and I don't like it much.

The set that you bough are the closest to NOS. The set pictured above are just nice to have if you want some extra holding surface.

Edit: I think the key blanks are the same from 67 to 93 but the locks themselves are not all interchangeable.
 

All Stock93

5 Year Member
Apr 16, 2016
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Nov 11, 2017
#7
  • Nov 11, 2017
  • #7
My 93 came with 2 sets of keys. One set has a skinny ignition key with an oval door key, the other set has a skinny ignition key and a small round door key.


my post brings zero clarity to this thread lol
 
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Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,291
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Massachusetts
Nov 11, 2017
#8
  • Nov 11, 2017
  • #8
I knew the square key was for the ignition, but the door keys are what is throwing me off. Just wondered if there was any sort of logic as to how Ford keyed their cars.

I'll prob just cut what I have.
 

darkfader

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Nov 11, 2017
#9
  • Nov 11, 2017
  • #9
I also have the small square ignition and fat oval door/hatch keys for my 93. Clear as mud?
 

FastDriver

I was uncomfortably high & wearing a helmet
SN Certified Technician
Sep 5, 2001
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Nov 11, 2017
#10
  • Nov 11, 2017
  • #10
Mustang5L5 said:
So I have an original set of keys to my mustang, but they are pretty worn. I'd like to cut a new set out of NOS key blanks.

Problem is I see two styles.

This is what I have



But I've also seen this style door lock key



I can't find any clear info on the breakdown of what style key is original to what years. Was it random?
Click to expand...

Mike, I remember distinctly that the '89 my father bought came with 2 sets of keys from the factory. Both ignition keys were the same - the square one. The door keys, on the other hand, were not identical. One was an oval, and the other was the smaller circular shaped key.
 
Reactions: Mustang5L5

Noobz347

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor
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#11
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The third key was probably a valet key. It works on the driver door only and won't open the glove box.
 

Blandnuts

I don't swallow; I only swoosh
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FloorDuh
Nov 11, 2017
#12
  • Nov 11, 2017
  • #12
FastDriver said:
Mike, I remember distinctly that the '89 my father bought came with 2 sets of keys from the factory. Both ignition keys were the same - the square one. The door keys, on the other hand, were not identical. One was an oval, and the other was the smaller circular shaped key.
Click to expand...

My current 90 had 2 ovals and 2 squares with the dealer tags still on them (2nd owner). My other 90 had something similar to what you're talking about but it wasn't as documented as my current mustang.
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
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Massachusetts
Nov 11, 2017
#13
  • Nov 11, 2017
  • #13
Noobz347 said:
The third key was probably a valet key. It works on the driver door only and won't open the glove box.
Click to expand...

I think some years also had a plastic wallet key?

I have two sets. One I assume is original and one generic copy set.

This is what I have


That round key does lock the glovebox, which is interesting because my car is a black interior swap car. I can't remember if I swapped the cylinder over. Are the glove boxes keyed to the doors?
 

Noobz347

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor
Admin Dude
Jan 4, 1985
43,315
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Nov 11, 2017
#14
  • Nov 11, 2017
  • #14
I still have my wallet key somewhere.

The glove box should be keyed slightly different from the doors. The regular door keys should open the glove box.
 

Chuckman

GTFO you fat, heavy bastard
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Nov 11, 2017
#15
  • Nov 11, 2017
  • #15
i have 2 of the small ovals and one of the big ones. no idea why, the p.o. gave me the small ones when i bought it, and the big one i found in one of those magnetic spare key box things inside the rear bumper about a year later. may have just been a dealer replacement or something like that?
 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
Mod Dude
Aug 25, 2016
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polk county florida
Nov 11, 2017
#16
  • Nov 11, 2017
  • #16
Mustang5L5 said:
I think some years also had a plastic wallet key?

I have two sets. One I assume is original and one generic copy set.

This is what I have


That round key does lock the glovebox, which is interesting because my car is a black interior swap car. I can't remember if I swapped the cylinder over. Are the glove boxes keyed to the doors?
Click to expand...
Yes, ok, yes is not accurate, it does not use all the cuts from the door lock, door key will open glove box but a key made from the glove box likely will have missing cuts which may not work on the door depending on what cuts are missing.
Clear as mud.
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,291
17,997
224
Massachusetts
Nov 11, 2017
#17
  • Nov 11, 2017
  • #17
Noobz347 said:
I still have my wallet key somewhere.

The glove box should be keyed slightly different from the doors. The regular door keys should open the glove box.
Click to expand...


Ok, so I had to have swapped the glove box cylinder then.
 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
Mod Dude
Aug 25, 2016
27,998
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213
polk county florida
Nov 11, 2017
#18
  • Nov 11, 2017
  • #18
Keep in mind that as the key wears so does the pucks in the lock cylinder but to a lesser amount, if too worn a new key is sometimes notchy, just hit the edges with a fine file a couple times
 

FastDriver

I was uncomfortably high & wearing a helmet
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Nov 11, 2017
#19
  • Nov 11, 2017
  • #19
Not really. I don't know how many patterns ford had, but I have personally opened about 5 other C5 corvettes with the keys for mine... seemed like it worked 1/4 of the time. It wouldn't start their car, though. I'm guessing just about any door key will unlock your glove box.
 

TOOLOW91

If you're the village idiot what's that make me?
20+ Year Stangneter
Nov 29, 1999
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Nov 11, 2017
#20
  • Nov 11, 2017
  • #20
I have one oval one small cirlce door key on each set .

1989 car
 
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