can't get the door open
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 672
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From: Chesapeake Virginia
can't get the door open
Hey guys,
spent the day yesterday re-assembling the doors on my '81 resto-mod. I got everything back together on the passanger side door, tested the door latch a bunch of times by closing the catch with a screw driver then opening it with both the inside and outside door handles, everything worked great. then I installed the striker bolt on the jamb and carefully closed the door checking for any alignment issues. now I can't get the door to re-open to save my life. I've tried both handles numerous times with no luck, and yes, did try it with the locking mechanism in both the unlocked and lock possitions, still can't get the door to unlatch. I have access to the catch mechanism and can see all the levers moving but she still won't open.
any ideas on how to get the door open again ???
spent the day yesterday re-assembling the doors on my '81 resto-mod. I got everything back together on the passanger side door, tested the door latch a bunch of times by closing the catch with a screw driver then opening it with both the inside and outside door handles, everything worked great. then I installed the striker bolt on the jamb and carefully closed the door checking for any alignment issues. now I can't get the door to re-open to save my life. I've tried both handles numerous times with no luck, and yes, did try it with the locking mechanism in both the unlocked and lock possitions, still can't get the door to unlatch. I have access to the catch mechanism and can see all the levers moving but she still won't open.
any ideas on how to get the door open again ???
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 75
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From: Fairfax Virginia
Did you get it open?
I had an issue years back when I jacked up one corner of a 75 and both doors locked up. Like you, I couldn't open them if my life depended on it. Ended up climbing over the door'every time, even had my date jump over. Then about a month later they just started opening again. Haha good memories
I had an issue years back when I jacked up one corner of a 75 and both doors locked up. Like you, I couldn't open them if my life depended on it. Ended up climbing over the door'every time, even had my date jump over. Then about a month later they just started opening again. Haha good memories
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 672
Likes: 0
From: Chesapeake Virginia
thanks guys,
I was able to get it open. here's what I found. it turns out that when I was doing all my "mechanism testing" I wasn't closing the latch all the way just to the first "catch", when I installed the bolt and closed it all the way is when the problem showed up. well, I had installed some new outer door handles that aren't guite the same as the originals, the bolts that hold the handles in the door are about a "R.C.H." too long which causes them to hit part of the open mechanism and stop it from releasing the catch. I was able to get my dremel with a 90* adapter on it in there and cut the bolt off just a tad which allowed everything to work correctly.
thanks for the help.
I was able to get it open. here's what I found. it turns out that when I was doing all my "mechanism testing" I wasn't closing the latch all the way just to the first "catch", when I installed the bolt and closed it all the way is when the problem showed up. well, I had installed some new outer door handles that aren't guite the same as the originals, the bolts that hold the handles in the door are about a "R.C.H." too long which causes them to hit part of the open mechanism and stop it from releasing the catch. I was able to get my dremel with a 90* adapter on it in there and cut the bolt off just a tad which allowed everything to work correctly.
thanks for the help.
