New door latches?

[mrtleavitt]

Does anybody know of someone who makes new door latches for 68-72 Fords? Mine seem to get harder and harder to close. They were aligned professionally when I got it painted about a year ago and they closed like my brand new ford, but now its a pain in the rear and slamming the doors on a nice classic isn't too appealing. I always keep my eye out for junk trucks that have good latches but they only last for so long. I haven't found any yet, any advise?

[Blue Cloud]

You might need to replace the hinge pins and bushings.

[mrtleavitt]

ya, I'm sure those are due as well.

[fordman]

maybe the latch post is out of adjustment. is it just not catching when you close it. or is it moving up when you close it? thats the way to tell if its a worn part or and adjustment. if its hard to close then it could be the adjustment. if it moves up and down when you close it then its worn parts. like hihnge pins or latch or even the stricker pin on the door post.

[fordman]

maybe the latch post is out of adjustment. is it just not catching when you close it. or is it moving up when you close it? thats the way to tell if its a worn part or and adjustment. if its hard to close then it could be the adjustment. if it moves up and down when you close it then its worn parts. like hihnge pins or latch or even the stricker pin on the door post.

[Banjo]

I bet you have a different deal going on. If your truck was freshly painted and any assy/disassy and closed fine before but sliding out of adjustment that is what is happening (sliding). Doors are heavy, and all adjustment points are not tight as crap, the weight will pull back out of alignment. And, given new paint, people might have been concerned about cracking it and didn't really torque the living crap out of it.

[FORDification]

If the latch itself is worn out, here's an NOS driver's-side latch on E-bay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1968-72- ... enameZWDVW

[tuff4rd]

Any vendors offer new door latches? I have to slam the heck out of my doors to shut tight

[basketcase0302]

tuff4rd,

lmc's showing them on page 14 of their catalog.
(But I've never bought these from them before).

Jeff

[foghorn]

Tuff4rd sounds like you might need to loosen the striker and move it out just a tad this way you might not have to slam it any more.




Foggy

[mrtleavitt]

Yes there are door latches in LMC catalogs [u]but not for the year I am talking about[/u]. They have latches from something like '57-'66, but nothing for '67-'72.

[tuff4rd]

Thanks for your replys guys

[nadams]

I have a strange issue with my doors. Sometimes you have to try and close the doors 4-5 times before it will stay and others one time and it shuts right. The passenger door seems to be the worse of the two. I know it doesn't make a difference which one works better to you guys but I like to bitch on occasion.


Had to edit I noticed it didn't make any sense.

[fordman]

clean your door latch and or adjust your striker bolt. also check to see if the hinge pins are worn (can you lift the door from the outer edge) and also look for wear on the striker bolt.

[basketcase0302]

adjust your striker bolt.

Guys, a quick "fix" here a lot of times is to verify that the plastic part of the strike isn't missing. If you can't afford to replace it...
Wrapping some electrical tape around it to "bush" it out helps.

Jeff