'74 Ignition Cylinder Removal... without key?

[AgentOrange74]

The PO I bought my '74 Blazer from swore he had the keys, but he claims he can't find them. Is it possible to get the ignition cylinder out without the key? Or is there another way around this conundrum? Can I take out a door lock cylinder and have a key made by the numbers? I seem to remember these older chevy's needing a separate key for the doors and the ignition, like the door cyl doesn't use the same amount of tumblers or something.

Anyway, any help would be appreciated.

[roundhouse]

It's easy
Just get a new cylinder with key,
A steering wheel puller tool and
A lock plate remover tool from any auto parts store

Remove the steering wheel
Then use the tool to remove the lock plate
Remove the screws for the turn signal assembly (now is a good time to replace it ,'every auto parts store has em )
And then there is one scree that holds the lock cylinder in

Lots of videos on YouTube showing how

I replaced one a couple years ago in a 1996 30'passenger bus that someone gave me
It hadnt been cranked in 8 years and theyd lost the keys

I replaced the lock ,'the rubber brake hoses and pads
Fired it up and sold it for $6K


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Engineer]

If the column is original it probably doesn't use a screw to hold the ignition tumbler in. It probably has a spring loaded tab that you push in while pulling the tumbler out.

I don't think the screw showed up until 1978.

And what are these tools you speak of? Lol.

[Irish_Alley]

this WRITE-UP just dont take it apart too far if you dont have to lol.
if you dont have that style then you might need to break a part off like THIS

[hatzie]

Don't replace the turn signal switch unless it's failed.  The China made switches you can buy now are less than high quality. 
If your switch has problems latching and/or un-latching you can replace the springs and plastic cam follower and/or latch ring.

[AgentOrange74]

Thanks for the replies! Can't wait till the weekend so I can dig into it. I really liked this article, which was buried in one of the threads. It explains everything very clearly. It should be linked to in a pinned thread/faq (if not already)
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/01/StdColumnD&R108JL05.doc