Illuminated keyhole - GM style

[gdouaire]

Because this cannot be found anywhere on the net...

Some 70s, 80s and 90s GM (mostly Cadillac's and Oldsmobile's) have illuminated keyholes. You lift the exterior door handle, the interior lights come on and at the same time the keyhole is also lighted. There are some variations of the system.

Cannot find a DAMN image of this on the web - how this is technically implemented. Here it is.

This is the lock for a 1980-1985 Cadillac Eldorado or Seville. There's a chrome bulge around the actual lock center, and this is surrounded by a ring which is made of a white-ish plastic. There's also a fiber optic connected to the back of the lock cylinder:





This fiber optic is fed by the door courtesy light via a port on the top of the bezel:



Once lit, it's like magic:



My gbody will be one of the very few retrofitted with this option!

 

[-83MONTESS-]

I didnt know anything like this existed back then! Thats pretty cool.

 

[gdouaire]

Wondering if that ever existed on any gbody?

 

[MR442]

I thought BUick had them on top line G body ..

I have 4 or 5 sets in my stash .

 

[liquidh8]

That is cool, the only thing is the lock cylinder chrome is "taller" than a standard lock, making it stick out more unless the lock hole on the door skin is recessed a bit.

 

[online170]

The Continental from Lincoln had it also, called "illuminated Entry".

Heres some images I found. They are of a 1975 Cadillac, 1979 Olds, and a 77 Lincoln.

 

[gdouaire]

cool! several variations I see here.

 

[GP403]

+1 good luck with this, we need pics when you're finished!

 

[pencero]

electro lamps or 'electro luminescent lamps' can be used instead of salvaging these older keyholes which used lower quality E/L fluid of their time and won't last very long used. You can buy EL material online from american made manufacturers for an arm and a leg or call china and get the material for a dime a dozen. Then all you have to do is cut the material to size and run the wires to the back. EL was used on the buick Riviera 'R' logos !

 

[gdouaire]

Left, the illuminated Cadillac lock cylinder; right, the Oldsmobile. The bracket from the Olds lock will have to be reused on the Cadillac lock. Simple enough, because this goes under the almighty "GM interchangeability".


Which is done easily - there's a clamp to push and that is all.


And then everything fits without any more f***king around on the door.

The new lock protudes an extra 3mm, not something I will lose sleep over... 😉