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How does one access the attaching hardware for the door latch plate located on the rear pillar? Do I cut a hole, install the reinforcement and retainer and then glass it back up? Or am I missing something obvious here? I have to install both sides. thanks, Andy
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Re: C1 Door latch plate access
I believe the access is under the fuel tank cover, can't say whether you can do this with the fuel tank in place, I acquired my car without a tank and have not yet permanently installed the new one. I also don't have a convertible top.
C Ya, Joseph Rock
Frankenstein 59 -
Re: C1 Door latch plate access
There is supposed to be a bracket on the inside of the the doorpost that holds the nut plate loosely in the correct position so the screws that come through the door latch can align with the nut plate. If this bracket comes loose somehow and allows the nut plate to fall down in the doorpost, you've only got three options (I think)
1. Raise it up with something through the holes (magnetic probe or a magnet-on-a-string or ?)
2. Cut a hole in the front of the fiberglass to retrieve it (remember there's metal behind the fiberglass)
3. Come in from behind the post under the convertible top cover) and cut the hole
When it happened to me......I was lucky enough to be successful with a stong magnet on a string!
Good luck!Comment
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Re: C1 Door latch plate access
Andy,
If I understand what you are saying, on my '58, I simple put two small screwdrivers in two holes and with my small hand managed to slip the retaining plate over the end of the screwdrivers. I than screwed the bolt in the third hole while holding the plate in place. I then took out the screwdriversw one at a time and threaded the bolts. It would help to have a second pair of hands to hold the screwdrivers in place. I posted this in more detail sometime back, so you might want to check the archieves under my name. If I'm not describing a fix for your problem, others will address it
DavidComment
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Re: C1 Door latch plate access
Hmmm, because I saw a nut plate and a rusted retainer in the box of old parts I got with the car, I assumed that the plates were somehow removed.... didn't think that they may have dropped into the cavity... makes good sense though... if they are hard to install, they would be just as hard to remove.... I'll start poking around with a magnet and I'll also pull out the fuel tank and see if I can gain access that way... Thanks for the quick responses, AndyComment
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Re: C1 Door latch plate access
Andy,
I just stuck my hand behind the rear of the latch pillar through the gas tank bay (tank out) of my '57. Very easy access, I could feel the plate/retainer easily and if the parts have somehow fallen down, it's only a six inch drop to where they might be, so no circus rubber man needed. Tank removal isn't difficult but you may lose some rusted bolts/nut plates. Good luck.
Rod 17041Comment
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Re: C1 Door latch plate access
Excellent! Thanks everyone... Hopefully finishing my car will be as easy as it was to get informative responses on this board.... but then again somehow I think not..... Thanks again, AndyComment
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