Rebuilding C3 Door Guts and Hinges

[Jack O.]

I have a '69 coupe and the windows are very hard to roll up and now the drivers door wouldn't open the last couple of times I locked and then unlocked it. I figure all the door latch/lock and window mechanisms are long overdue for an overhaul. What's the best way to approach this? Can I unbolt the window tracks and remove it all pretty much as a unit or a piece at a time? Looks like once the window stuff is out the lock and door handle mechanisims will not be very hard. I read other posts about the hinge bolt replacement and I don't think I can get mine out with the door on. I hit the top one a few times and didn't move and the sidepipe covers are in the way on the bottom one. Seems it would be easiest to remove the door from the hinges rather than the hinges from the car. Make sense?
Thanks,
Jack

[Patrick H.]

Re: Rebuilding C3 Door Guts and Hinges

The door innards disassembly process is shown in the Service Manual. The absolute worst part is getting out the window.

I suspect that you will find that the white lithium grease placed inside your door mechanisms and locks 43 years ago is quite hard and useless. You can clean them up (kerosene comes to mind), regrease and reinstall.

Have your patience hat on the day you decide to do this - and do one side at a time so you can compare.

Patrick

[Edward J.]

Re: Rebuilding C3 Door Guts and Hinges

Jack during my 72 resto. One of the items on my list was to fix those stiff window cranks, It didn't take much to find the problem, There is a aluminum bracket behind the crank and I believe has 3 bolts that secure it. the grease that was used as a lube. as Patrick says is hard as a rock. hence the windows were tuff to roll down, As soon as I removed the goop and re-lubed everything worked like new. and of coarse I lubed the tracks and linkage for everything else with the door latchs and mechanisms.

By the way you can leave the window regulator in place while you lube the tracks up use a acid brush and white lith. grease. the door latch linkage is behind a plastic shield, if you can try cleaning & lubing up the linkage in place its a hole lot easier. as the linkage is a pill. there is also a metal panel that can removed for lubing the window tracks.

If your going to do work on the hinges remove the door from the hinges. and put the door on a couple of saw horses thats what I used and you can just work on everything inside the door for easier access.

[Jack O.]

Re: Rebuilding C3 Door Guts and Hinges

Thanks for the suggestions. I forgot all about the service manual. Followed that and have everything out except the latches.

[Russ T.]

Re: Rebuilding C3 Door Guts and Hinges

Also, refrain from spraying WD-40 or any other silicone type spray inside the doors.
The fiberglass will soak it up and it will bleed through towards the outside of the door.

Russ

[Jack O.]

Re: Rebuilding C3 Door Guts and Hinges

Thanks for the heads up Russ. That would be a disaster. I've removed everything from the door and have most of it soaking in kerosene. As the others mentioned, appears the biggest issue is decades old greece and dirt clogging up the works.

Jack