Door lock mechanism

[Jeffrey S.]

The circular spring on my '69 door lock mechanism (not the key cylinder but the locking mechanism inside the door) broke. Can this be replaced or does a whole new mechanism need to be purchased. I would like to avoid removing this and the door handle if possible but have never attempted this before. As always, thanks for your help.
Jeff

[Patrick H.]

Re: Door lock mechanism

Hi Jeff,

Do you mean this?

https://www.corvettecentral.com/c3-6...-spring-283037

I work until 9 or later on Mondays, just got your message.

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Door lock mechanism

Patrick,
Bingo! That's it. Thank you. Go you think that it can be replaced without removing the mechanism from the door?

[Patrick H.]

Re: Door lock mechanism

I suspect that you could remove just the part that the spring mounts to and replace it in that manner.
I'm not sure you could easily replace it with it all in the door.

In my latest (last) catalog from Paragon it was page 141 if you want to see a better schematic.

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Door lock mechanism

Thanks for this. My catalog doesn't have the schematic for the mechanism but does list the springs. I did find a good photo of the mechanism on eBay so I know where it mounts. I just hate the thought of removing the whole thing from the door and fighting to put back in.

[Mark F.]

Re: Door lock mechanism

Patrick, Bingo! That's it. Thank you. Go you think that it can be replaced without removing the mechanism from the door?

Jeff,

If your '69 is like my '67, it's an easy fix once you get the part (thank you Dr. McCagh ! ).

Photo is of mine when it was broken.

IIRC the small hook goes in the hole @ 6:00 and the longer spring tang hooks on the tab circled in blue at the tip of my screw driver.

Taking the door panel off is the hardest part of the job - none of the lock latch mechanism needs to be removed - just slip the new coiled part of the spring over the knob-stud in the center and hook the ends in and it's done !


Door Lock Spring 1967.jpg

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Door lock mechanism

Mark,
Thanks for the photo and explanation. I can't see how I could do the replacement with the mechanism installed on my '69. So I started the procedure of removing the mechanism and the door handle which also had a broken spring. I was able to reconfigure that spring and it is working well now but for the life of me I can't se how the mechanism can get out of the door. I'm sure there is a way but I can't see it. The mechanism is detached from the door and is floating inside. I probably could get the new spring on now that the mechanism is much lower in the door but I would like to clean it up and make sure it works before I reinstall everything. What's the secret to getting it out? Should the window be up or down?

[Patrick H.]

Re: Door lock mechanism

Jeff,

Any pictures?

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Door lock mechanism

Here's the secret- raise the window all the way up and the mechanism and water shield come right out the bottom access opening. Once I figured this out it took 30 seconds to slip both out.
Jeff

[Michael L.]

Re: Door lock mechanism

I had a similar problem on my '69. I was going to suggest removing it to replace the spring. Unfortunately, I didn't know about the replacement springs that are available. My spring wasn't broken it was just weak. I bent it to reintroduce the spring effect and the lock seemed to work well but I was worried about it malfunctioning once I had the door all back together. So I drilled a small hole in the lock mechanism and I added a standard straight spring to the mechanism to supplement the factory spring. When I was done I added some red spray grease to the key movement points.

Mike