I have a 68 coupe, VIN starts with 194378S, which I think means it was made in 1967? I have a question about door alignment wedges and such.

Someone I paid to work on the car a few years ago left me essentially with a box of parts to figure out after I fired him. Now I'm into the last phases of the resto, like putting the doors on.

I read another thread about the alignment "fiasco", but my question is much more basic. How do I know what the correct parts are for the door and the door jamb, and where can I find them?

On the door, I have two horizontal holes that look like the would fit the long horizontal brass wedge that I see in all the catalogs. Of course, there is no such wedge in my box of parts. Furthermore, the 68 assembly manual seems to show a vertically mounted wedge and spacer plate on the door, implying the horizontal longer brass wedge is not correct for the car.

On t he door jamb, I found a couple of brass pieces with a wedged center that I see in the catalogs are part of the "convertible only" alignment kit. The holes on these things line up perfectly with the two vertical holes on the door jamb, above the door striker. The assembly manual shows a wedge here that is a wedge from top to bottom, not like the brass things I have that are wedged only in the center.

Does anyone know what I am supposed to have on a car with this VIN?

So confused

Thanks!

 

I'm sure someone with an early 68 will post a pic soon .

But in reference to the Assembly Instruction Manual (AIM), I have a 69 AIM that has a few pages of things that never actually went into production , so those pages COULD be something like that .

I do see the horizontal wedges for convertibles though in actual cars and they do sit above the striker pin height

 

Hi 55T,
The part of the VIN you posted identifies the car to some degree, but it's the last 5 digits of the VIN (that you didn't include) that will help determine when it was assembled.
How about posting those!
All 68 cars had the plastic block on the body door jamb.
Early-ish 68's have a short vertical bronze wedge on the door.
Later 68's have a longer horizontal bronze wedge on the door.
Regards,
Alan

The body wedge.


The later long door wedge.

 

Thanks, all. The full VIN is 194378S424510.

 

Hi 55,
Your car was assembled during July of 1968.
I would consider it to be a late car for the part change.
You should be able to determine for certain which wedge your doors originally had by the spacing of the holes.
Are they still there?
Regards,
Alan

I added a photo of the long (later) wedge.

 

Yes, the holes on the door are still there. The holes are horizontal and about 1.75" apart.

Where did you get the plastic wedges on your door jambs? As I said, for some reason I have a pair of brass wedges like the ones in the convertible kit, and they match the vertical holes perfectly.

 

Hi 55,
The parts aren't from my car.
I don't see the plastic wedges for the lock pillar in the usual vendors I use.
Perhaps I missed them.
Someone might come along with a source.
You could advertise for a used pair that someone might be willing to take off a rear clip.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan

 

Alan nailed it.
My June '68 coupe has the small wedges too.
The longer ones vendors sell in the 2nd pic are 69 and later.
Check Doc Rebuild or Paragon. I replaced them about 5 years ago.
They may be listed for early 68 convertibles but that's what you need.
Marshal

 

The plastic wedge on the body door jamb is not reproduced. There are similar wedges used for the convertible top lid. The lid uses a combination of a brass type wedge and a plastic wedge. The plastic wedge is similar to, but not the same as the original door jamb wedge. The holes are spaced the same so it can be used and I assume that is why it is not reproduced.
I have no experience with 68 doors though, just 69 doors.

 

Doc Rebuild has them $49.85. item #1056994
I just looked quickly.
They are avail. all over the web. (Reproductions)
Marshal