Drivers door latch ?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,887
Likes: 1
From: Hill AFB area Utah
Drivers door latch ?
Anyone out there have a extra drivers door latch they would like to part with? Mine wont seem to unlock once locked 
I have had it out several times trying to clean and lube it and it just isnt happening any help would be much appreciated 
thanks guys
I have had it out several times trying to clean and lube it and it just isnt happening any help would be much appreciated thanks guys
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,380
Likes: 788
From: Redondo Beach, California
A couple of years ago, I was able to buy new ones for my 70. They weren't too terribly expensive.
I had similar locking problems with the drivers latch on my 68 and passengers side on the 70.
I dissected the 68 latch mainly since I didn't think I would be able to find another and wanted to determine if a 70 latch could be modified. Looking at the internal "works", I think it's very likely that once the latch experiences lock up, it's history. The levers inside are stamped soft steel 0.070 inches thick. They bend and distort easy. Also the pivot joints are very crude, a pivot post and a hole in a lever arm where the pivot post is inserted in the lever arm hole. Dirt that gathers in the joint just abrades the hole so that it gets "sloppy." It's easy for a jamb condition to start to develop and once you use a little force to force an opening you can bend a lever arm. Considering that the latches are not very durable and considering the big problems they cause when they refust to open, I'd recommend looking for a new one.
The ones for the 70 were bought from a forum sponsor (forget which one) and I was lucky to find a NOS 68 latch on ebay.
I had similar locking problems with the drivers latch on my 68 and passengers side on the 70.
I dissected the 68 latch mainly since I didn't think I would be able to find another and wanted to determine if a 70 latch could be modified. Looking at the internal "works", I think it's very likely that once the latch experiences lock up, it's history. The levers inside are stamped soft steel 0.070 inches thick. They bend and distort easy. Also the pivot joints are very crude, a pivot post and a hole in a lever arm where the pivot post is inserted in the lever arm hole. Dirt that gathers in the joint just abrades the hole so that it gets "sloppy." It's easy for a jamb condition to start to develop and once you use a little force to force an opening you can bend a lever arm. Considering that the latches are not very durable and considering the big problems they cause when they refust to open, I'd recommend looking for a new one.
The ones for the 70 were bought from a forum sponsor (forget which one) and I was lucky to find a NOS 68 latch on ebay.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,456
Likes: 10
From: Somerdale NJ
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-‘17-‘18
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,380
Likes: 788
From: Redondo Beach, California
Is this what you're looking for?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1969-...Q5fAccessories
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1969-...Q5fAccessories
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,456
Likes: 10
From: Somerdale NJ
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-‘17-‘18
I had to replace my LH latch as well and bought on the forum - less expensive. I would keep searching as it seems the prices for the latches are all over the place.
