Relocated Trunk Key


Below is a picture of where I relocated my trunk key.

Caprices come with a big bow tie on the trunk with the key to the trunk under the bowtie. When customizing my car this is one of the things that had to go (ugly). Only problem is I did not know how I was going to open the trunk, it already had an electric solenoid, but if the battery went dead then I was out of luck. What I found was a flat area underneath the lip of the trunk and the licience plate light. This area looked just big enough to mount the key mechanism. When I measured, it turned out the area was a little small for it but being the impulsive soul that I am I decided I would try to mount it. In the end it turned out great, it fit perfectly. The rod that goes from the key barrel to the latch had to be shortened about 2 inches and ends rounded.

The process of making the hole for the key barrel consisted of first making a hole big enough to accept he outside diameter of the barrel. I did not have a drill bit big enough for this so I just used a conical file on the end of my drill to get it big enough. Then there are ridges or "keys" on the shaft of the barrel that aid in holding it in place and making sure it does not spin when the key is used. For these I had to use a square file and notch our the respective holes according to the layout on the key barrel. This was a little tedious but I got it to fit eventually. Then I just reinstalled the clip on the key barrel that holds it in place by getting wedged in between a slot on the barrel and the body metal.

Now the outside of my trunk is totally flat, the key hole is hidden (you have to look really hard for it - like bending over to look at the trunk light). I did have to shave off some of the plastic on the trunk light, not to make it fit, but so the key would have more clearance and turn easily. It is a little harder to use the trunk key now, as you have to bend over to find the hole, but since I have an electronic trunk release on my alarm remote I do not ever plan on using the key unless the battery goes dead in the car or on my remote or the trunk solenoid fails.

I thought I was the only one who discovered this until I saw the Rockford Fosgate Impala at a sound off and they had done the same thing to there trunk lid.


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