Close the Door!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 2,848
Likes: 3
From: Atlanta, Ga, Fulton
Close the Door!
I think I have discoverd another, new malady in my 66. When I close the drivers door it doesnt latch sometimes. Just a dull thud, kinda like when you drop a book on the floor and it hits the carpet perfectly parallel to the floor. Sometimes it closes just like it should, other times well you know. I should add my hinges are nice and tight without any apparent wear.
I am sure this is nothing unique to my car. can anyone tell me if the issue is with the latch mech on the door jam or if the issue is inside the door where it requires a speedy removal of the door panel? I had something like this many l-o-n-g years ago with my 57 Chevy but i can't remember how I fixed it.
I am sure this is nothing unique to my car. can anyone tell me if the issue is with the latch mech on the door jam or if the issue is inside the door where it requires a speedy removal of the door panel? I had something like this many l-o-n-g years ago with my 57 Chevy but i can't remember how I fixed it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 2,897
Likes: 0
From: Moon Township PA
Re: Close the Door! (TheOman)
Open the door to your car and, using a long screwdriver, poke the latching mechanism. Does it rotate normally and smoothly? Now, close the door and when you hear the thud, pull the door open without unlatching it. Did the mechanism get tripped by the striker bar?
The mid-years have a very simple latch and locking mechanism. If you are getting an incomplete movement of your door latch, you may have either a mechanical defect in it or it may just be some REALLY old hardened grease, preventing the latch from grabbing the bar on the door jamb. You might want to pull your door panel off, then the rods that go to the door latching mechanism. The door latch is held in by three phillips screws. Remove the door latch and soak it well in your favorite solvent. I found that the latch in my 66 had some grease that was from the Jurassic period. It was almost as hard as rock. Once it is cleaned, re-grease with white lithium grease.
Gary
The mid-years have a very simple latch and locking mechanism. If you are getting an incomplete movement of your door latch, you may have either a mechanical defect in it or it may just be some REALLY old hardened grease, preventing the latch from grabbing the bar on the door jamb. You might want to pull your door panel off, then the rods that go to the door latching mechanism. The door latch is held in by three phillips screws. Remove the door latch and soak it well in your favorite solvent. I found that the latch in my 66 had some grease that was from the Jurassic period. It was almost as hard as rock. Once it is cleaned, re-grease with white lithium grease.
Gary
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,456
Likes: 6
From: Spicewood, Texas, USA TX-Texas
Re: Close the Door! (TheOman)
If your midyeer is like the later cars, there are no moving parts on the jamb side. It is stationary and there is nothing to go wrong, unless it is completely mispositioned and then it would not be an intermittent problem...It would never latch properly.
I suspect the latch mechanism inside the door is hanging up such that the part that engages the jamb part is not returning to the "ready to close" position. Then when you close the door, the latch instead closing around the jamb part, simply hangs in the "open" position, and the door "bounces" off the jamb part.
I suspect the latch mechanism inside the door is hanging up such that the part that engages the jamb part is not returning to the "ready to close" position. Then when you close the door, the latch instead closing around the jamb part, simply hangs in the "open" position, and the door "bounces" off the jamb part.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,501
Likes: 0
Close the Door!
Here I was expecting a classic comedy routine and I find good maintenance advice instead. Guess I'll have to supply the routine myself.
"Open de door!" (muffled voice from inside small box)
"S'okay?"
"S'allright!"
"Ah'ma gonna juggle de three *****, now. Hokay!"
"Close de door!"
"You no trust I juggle de *****?"
"No, I trust, I trust. Ah'm okay. You juggle good?"
"I juggle good. You ready?"
"Ah'ma ready!"
"S'okay?"
"S'allright!"
"Ah'ma gonna juggle three *****- bowling ball, basketball anna baseball!"
"Close de door!"
"Open de door!" (muffled voice from inside small box)
"S'okay?"
"S'allright!"
"Ah'ma gonna juggle de three *****, now. Hokay!"
"Close de door!"
"You no trust I juggle de *****?"
"No, I trust, I trust. Ah'm okay. You juggle good?"
"I juggle good. You ready?"
"Ah'ma ready!"
"S'okay?"
"S'allright!"
"Ah'ma gonna juggle three *****- bowling ball, basketball anna baseball!"
"Close de door!"
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,456
Likes: 6
From: Spicewood, Texas, USA TX-Texas
Re: Close the Door! (Mac)
Macster, Macster, you know what our credo is here...Answer the question if you know the answer; entertain them with bs is you don't. :lol: :lol: :lol:
Who did that routine? I keep visualizing one of lesser known Marx brothers...not Harpo, not Groucho...
"Doctor, Doctor, When I do this, it hurts."
"Well, my medical advice is to quit doing that."
Who did that routine? I keep visualizing one of lesser known Marx brothers...not Harpo, not Groucho...
"Doctor, Doctor, When I do this, it hurts."
"Well, my medical advice is to quit doing that."
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,501
Likes: 0
Re: Close the Door! (Chuck Sangerhausen)
I was gonna recommend he pull the door panel and clean the door latch but greater minds than mine (or at least faster ones) were all over it, so I figured I'd entertain with :bs instead.
I'm not sure of his name but he was a regular on Ed Sullivan- Coco Gigio?
I'm not sure of his name but he was a regular on Ed Sullivan- Coco Gigio?
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,456
Likes: 6
From: Spicewood, Texas, USA TX-Texas
Re: Close the Door! (67HEAVEN)
...greater minds than mine (or at least faster ones) were all over it, so I figured I'd entertain with :bs instead
Señor Wences and his talking box.
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Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 10,866
Likes: 717
From: Beverly Hills/Pine Ridge Florida
Re: Close the Door! (Chuck Sangerhausen)
"Topo Gigio", the little talking mouse/hand thing with Senor Wences. Remember it well as a child :) Regarding the door, check the latch and see if it rotates. Also check the striker to see if just maybe it's moved a "smidge". You can use modelling clay to cover the striker, and easily push the door closed and check the alignment in the clay. Chuck
[Modified by Chuck Gongloff, 4:00 PM 3/22/2002]
[Modified by Chuck Gongloff, 4:00 PM 3/22/2002]
