door latches from satan's bottom
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,166
Likes: 0
From: Tulsa Ok
door latches from satan's bottom
I just went to unlock the door of my '77, which I spent the weekend installing new latches on because I spent the previous weekend figuring out how to open the t-top with a coat-hanger and bungie-cord because they won't unlock, only to find that the passenger side won't unlock with a key.
I'm thankful, mind you, that the driver's side worked and I hadn't installed the door panels back yet, but for cryin out loud...
What's the deal with these things?
I'm pretty sure that I wasted my $200 on latches, because the old ones seem to work fine when not installed, and the new one's are only slightly prettier and function just as abysmally.
I can only surmise that it's some kind of torque working on the mechanism when tightened that doesn't exist when you're observing it in the living room.
Has anybody figured out a shimming procedure or adjustment that eludes me at this point?
I'm thankful, mind you, that the driver's side worked and I hadn't installed the door panels back yet, but for cryin out loud...
What's the deal with these things?
I'm pretty sure that I wasted my $200 on latches, because the old ones seem to work fine when not installed, and the new one's are only slightly prettier and function just as abysmally.
I can only surmise that it's some kind of torque working on the mechanism when tightened that doesn't exist when you're observing it in the living room.
Has anybody figured out a shimming procedure or adjustment that eludes me at this point?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,427
Likes: 1,560
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
I have my glass and regulator out and I'll be removing the latch for cleaning soon, I found this link helpful,
http://www.corvettemagazine.com/68_8...-installation/
http://www.corvettemagazine.com/68_8...-installation/
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,018
Likes: 9
From: Winston Ga.
i have probs with my right side latch...
on mine it seems the door is a bit banged up and a little concave. just barely so that when I tighten all three screws down it bends the latch and prevents it from working properly.
check to see if the door is dinged a bit. other wise if it works outside the door and the panel is flat it should work inside.
also make sure all the control rods are the proper length. It can take a while to adjust those correctly.
on mine it seems the door is a bit banged up and a little concave. just barely so that when I tighten all three screws down it bends the latch and prevents it from working properly.
check to see if the door is dinged a bit. other wise if it works outside the door and the panel is flat it should work inside.
also make sure all the control rods are the proper length. It can take a while to adjust those correctly.
