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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: ATLANTA
Posts: 223
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Advice on door latch post repair
I'm looking for advice on how to repair this.
The post for my driver side door to latch on to is. . . loose. The metal on the door jamb is split and won't hold the post in place. This results in the door not closing firm everytime. Short of cutting the spot out and welding a new plate in, I'd like input on how to resolve this. ![]() ![]() ![]() Passenger side door, which is working great. ![]() |
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#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: WV
Posts: 946
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Re: Advice on door latch post repair
I would cut a panel from a donor and weld in the new panel. The integrity of the metal around the latch pin has been compromised. And it is a safety issue. Do it right, do it once be done with it.
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72 GMC C2500 402/Th400 first truck (still have) 77 GMC C3500 CC dually Sold ![]() 70 C50 dump truck "Rusty" 87 K10 Suburban Sold 93 K2500 xcab 6.5TD 96 GMC K2500 Suburban 6.5 TD |
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#3 |
Another Day, Another Dollar
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: North Vancouver, BC
Posts: 1,316
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Re: Advice on door latch post repair
Cut and weld is the best. If your really opposed to it cut a nice big plate out of 18 ga, drill your 1/2" hole and sandwich it behind the pillar with the pin.
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-78 K20 Cheyenne 454 long box, 4" lift, 35" MT's, '84 cab, '80 box "its hip to be square" ![]() |
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#4 |
Slots go on anything!
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Richardson, TX
Posts: 5,957
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Re: Advice on door latch post repair
There is a plate that is threaded to which the striker bolt goes in to. Unbolt the striker bolt, weld in your repair to the sheetmetal, and bolt the striker back in. I would probably replace the striker bolt while you are at it, and make sure it has the sleeve as well. Makes a huge difference in how the door latches.
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1974 Jimmy- 5.3/4L80e/NP241 |
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: ATLANTA
Posts: 223
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Re: Advice on door latch post repair
So that bolt assembly fell out. Inside the pillar is a device I assume this latch bolt post screws into.
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Maine
Posts: 2,356
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Re: Advice on door latch post repair
What fell out? I was stumped the first time I read this but I think I would fix it like jonboy said. I have had that retainer plate behind the sheet metal fall out before and I can't remember for the life of me how I fixed it. I hope that isn't what happened to yours. In a perfect world you should be able to unbolt that latch post, fix the weakened sheet metal, and bolt the post back on.
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76 Chevy K20 76 GMC K15 77 Chevy C10 77 Chevy K10 |
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: ATLANTA
Posts: 223
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Re: Advice on door latch post repair
The striker post fell out. Take a look at these:
![]() This is where it was. I'm trying to figure out how it physicall attached to the bracket inside the hole. It looks like the PO had this problem and just stuck it inside the sheetmetal and didn't physically attach it to anything. ![]() Same thing, just a different quality image. ![]() |
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#8 |
Another Day, Another Dollar
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: North Vancouver, BC
Posts: 1,316
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Re: Advice on door latch post repair
Like I said before drill a plate and plate an place it on the back. Hold it in place by the nut tension. On the outside of the pillar you will see some shims. Remove a shim and find a peice of 4 x 4 sheetmetal the same thickness, drill that out and run the striker through it on the outside of the pillar. This is really the only conceivable way I can think of without actually welding it up.
__________________
-78 K20 Cheyenne 454 long box, 4" lift, 35" MT's, '84 cab, '80 box "its hip to be square" ![]() |
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#9 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Banks, OR
Posts: 497
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Re: Advice on door latch post repair
Quote:
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: WV
Posts: 946
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Re: Advice on door latch post repair
Since you are already this far (whether you wanted to be or not) I would cut a whole section out of another truck and weld in. Then all the bracketry and such will be in the right place and you will have no worries.
__________________
72 GMC C2500 402/Th400 first truck (still have) 77 GMC C3500 CC dually Sold ![]() 70 C50 dump truck "Rusty" 87 K10 Suburban Sold 93 K2500 xcab 6.5TD 96 GMC K2500 Suburban 6.5 TD |
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#11 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Posts: 727
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Re: Advice on door latch post repair
A piece of pex tuning, 1/2 inch works perfect as a sleeve.
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#12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Little Rock, Arkansas
Posts: 770
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Re: Advice on door latch post repair
Take your door off! No welding required. But really like mentioned before the best route is to cut out one from a donor and weld it in.
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1979 ![]() 1996 Silverado x-cab "the daily" |
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#13 | ||
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: ATLANTA
Posts: 223
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Re: Advice on door latch post repair
Quote:
You mention Quote:
![]() Assuming my bold text above is the plate you are refering to. . . How would I secure that to the inside of the truck? Do you mean weld(attach) the piece you are referring to above on the inner side of the sheet metal. Then weld that sheet metal to the pillar of the truck? |
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#14 |
Slots go on anything!
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Richardson, TX
Posts: 5,957
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Re: Advice on door latch post repair
The plate I was referring to would be what looks like a cross on the striker you have. I guess yours looks like it was caged in there. If you could remove the cage, get a larger piece of thick (at least 1/4") metal, drill and tap threads into it for the striker, and cut it to 4"x4" or so with the hole in the middle. This would let you use it as a backing, but have enough area to keep the sheet metal from cracking out. Seems like Blazers have a larger plate like that already.
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1974 Jimmy- 5.3/4L80e/NP241 |
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#15 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: ATLANTA
Posts: 223
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Re: Advice on door latch post repair
ok. . I'm not good at welding. I've never welded before. I borrowed a welder from a buddy and practiced on a few piece of metal then I gave it a shot.
I opened up the hole where the original striker post fell out. ![]() I attached the cross shaped nut onto a piece of sheet metal. I believe this is 16 gauge. I practiced with 22 but felt that it was too flimsy. ![]() I cut a hole in the back to access the threads of the nut. ![]() Screwed the post in place. ![]() Finally attached it to the car. This is obviously poor welding but it is attached extremely solid. I'm sure eventually it'll fall off again since the weld is so poor but i'll deal with that when I get there. ![]() |
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#16 |
Another Day, Another Dollar
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: North Vancouver, BC
Posts: 1,316
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Re: Advice on door latch post repair
Way to go. Good enough! As long as your door latches
__________________
-78 K20 Cheyenne 454 long box, 4" lift, 35" MT's, '84 cab, '80 box "its hip to be square" ![]() |
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