A minor rant or two...

[Jawzx2]

So, I may have mentioned the $350 truck (2002 Chevy 1500 standard cab, long bed, manual, v6 2wd) I bought? My buddy and I went to pick it up yesterday. He has a truck and trailer. In any case, one of the main issues is that it had no key. I came prepared to try to Jimmy the column lock with a jiggler and pick. I am not a skilled picker and after about a half hour I gave up and went for the drill... Anyone familiar with GM ignition knows they have a hardened spinning gate in front of the lock to make drilling them difficult, but it's only held on by a crimp of pot metal. I tried to pry it off with a screwdriver, but the cheap shit drivers I brought with me just bent. Buddy says: "I got this..." and goes back to his truck... I get out to see what he's doing and he comes back with a sledge hammer. I'm like OK, sure, that'll smash the pot metal tab and make it so I can drill out the core... Then he proceeds to wind up and smash it with all his might. One broken steering column bracket and a rebound into the instrument cluster ensue. The ring does come off. I drill the lock core, unlock the steering and we load it onto the trailer and bring it home. It really is remarkably rust free, and all the glass and lights are good. But now it has a broken steering column and instrument cluster. I was very calm in the moment. But I just want to say here: DUDE! WHAT THE FUCK?!

asside from the driver's side fender wrinkle, rusty wheels and peely rubber trim on the bumper this thing is actually quite clean.

We have a 2002 parts truck, but it's an automatic V8, so the column and instrument cluster are different. sigh

I won't complain too much because he'll help me fix it, but it could have been just a new lock cylinder it needed (actually we could have taken the one from the parts truck) but now it's gonna need parts it didn't before.

Rant the 2nd: pulling into my driveway I was watching the geese, who are riled up about nesting season, trying to not run them over as they rushed the car and didn't pay attention to the front of the car. I rolled into a piece of machinery and put a big gouge in my painted bumper skin. FUCK. At least it missed the headlight and intercooler, so I guess that's good.

Argh.

[pos_camaro]

@Jawzx2 That must use a different ignitions switch than the old GM cars because a small screwdriver and a good wap would work on those. Hell, if it was old enough you didn't even need the wap.

[Shop-Teacher]

@Jawzx2 Double D'oh!

[DipodomysDeserti]

@pos_camaro I once drove my Corvair to the store with the ignition keys for my ‘66 GMC. Had to call my wife to bring me the door keys which apparently had much tighter cylinders.

[Jawzx2]

@pos_camaro yeah, the 1997 and up switches are actually quite rugged... Also, did I mention the screw drivers I brought were cheap shit? A good quality driver probably would have popped the anti-drill ring off without issue.

[drVanTraveler]

@Jawzx2 Friday the 13th.. check

[Jawzx2]

@drVanTraveler hah, I noticed that this morning and then forgot about it until just now

[Urambo Tauro]

@Jawzx2 I guess it's too late to suggest having a key cut from the VIN, huh? lol

[Jawzx2]

@Urambo-Tauro Yeah. I dropped the ball on contacting the dealership, and truck buddy was available right now so I figured I'd take my chances with the pick and drill. I still blame him for the smashed shit. I did a nice, clean core drill and the switch is pristine (even after him smashing it with a 5lb sledge. Those lock mechanisms are pretty god damn durable)

[pip bip]

@Jawzx2 you mean you didn't try a 5c coin to start it?

[Jawzx2]

@pip-bip unlocking the steering column was the real issue. Ain't no nickle gonna fix that.