Door Locks won't fit!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,743
Likes: 37
From: Stockton Ca
Door Locks won't fit!
The door locks on my 74 no longer fit in the now much larger holes.
The glass has shrunk until on lock falls out and the other barely is in.
What are my options?
Find larger locks that will fit in the larger holes.
Get the holes fg over and start again?
Elect door locks? Expensive!
Help!
R
The glass has shrunk until on lock falls out and the other barely is in.
What are my options?
Find larger locks that will fit in the larger holes.
Get the holes fg over and start again?
Elect door locks? Expensive!
Help!
R
1967 Pedal Car Champion
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 9,137
Likes: 4,247
From: US-PNW
That's not shrinking fiberglass – that's damaged, chewed out holes. I'm thinking perhaps there was stiffness or binding in the cylinder or linkage. Over time, forcing the key caused the lock cylinder to rotate in the hole and chewed on the fiberglass.
I don't think there are such things as oversized cylinders... For myself, the only fix would be to re-establish the holes with fiberglass (and free up the mechanisms!).
I don't think there are such things as oversized cylinders... For myself, the only fix would be to re-establish the holes with fiberglass (and free up the mechanisms!).
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 143
Likes: 28
From: Colorado Springs
Had to do barkingrats suggestion on my 78. Removed lock, feathered smp , closed the hole completely with many layers of mat snd “epoxy” then recarved the hole with a dremel. All part of a larger paint job.
1967 Pedal Car Champion
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 9,137
Likes: 4,247
From: US-PNW
Have you looked at electric locks? I'm only familiar with modern cars, which have a door lock cylinder too. Without this, how would you get into the car if the battery is dead? I think you're going to end up repairing the fiberglass regardless.
This seems like a good project to learn FG repair. It's a small project that's non-structural and is inexpensive for materials needed. The only specialist needed would be color matching the exterior after it's fixed.
Of course, you could leave as-is and just not lock the car!
This seems like a good project to learn FG repair. It's a small project that's non-structural and is inexpensive for materials needed. The only specialist needed would be color matching the exterior after it's fixed.
Of course, you could leave as-is and just not lock the car!
