66 Glove Box Door Lock Broken

[Michael A.]

The latch/lock on my glove box door broke tonight. I don't fully understand why but it did. The attached picture shows the cylinder at the broken piece next to it. Best I can surmise the broken piece is the bottom end of the latch. When the button is depressed it pushes this part down and (when attached) it pulls down the latch to allow the door to open.

Now the problem. I want to either repair it or replace it with one keyed to match my original key. Does anyone have a suggestion on how I can do either? My time before the summer road trip on Rte 66 is getting short so I need something fairly quick.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Cheers

[John H.]

Re: 66 Glove Box Door Lock Broken

Call Pat Krause, (410) 879-9647 - he can probably fix you up.

[Gary B.]

Re: Help! - 66 Glove Box Door Lock Broken

Mike,

It's very easy to preserve the inner lock cylinder that your key fits. The inner lock cylinder can be easily removed using a bent over paper clip.

Repairing the latch in the case is another matter. The movable latch at the top, back is staked in place and pushing out the old latch will likely result in the staked over bit breaking off. It is possible to purchase a new or NOS case, but it's nearly impossible to find an NOS example that is chrome plated as is the original. Maybe Pat Kraus has used chromed cases. If he doesn't you might call Paragon and talk to someone about their vintage parts collection to see if they have a used one. If you get a repro lock case from Paragon, Ecklers, or any of the other repro parts companies, I'm nearly certain it will not be chromed plated.

Gary

[Michael A.]

Re: 66 Glove Box Door Lock Broken

John,
Thanks for the contact. I called Pat today as he was walking around Carlisle. I was jealous. Pat says he should be able to fix it and send it back to me pdq. I've just packed it up and am shipping it out tomorrow.

Cheers

[Mike M.]

Re: 66 Glove Box Door Lock Broken

Hi Guys
Had the same problem with the broken "catch" a couple of months ago.
When the lockset is removed from the case, the remiaing piece of the catch comes out and the new one slides in, then, the re-installation of the lockset serves as its retainer. Presto-chango!
H.a.N.D.

[Gary B.]

Re: 66 Glove Box Door Lock Broken

Mike,

Can you clarify which lock part you're referring to as the catch? When I remove the lock cylinder from one of these glove box locks, what I see inside is as a curved vertical piece that can be pushed in (this is what moves rearward when the push button is installed and pushed in). This curved vertical piece blocks access to the latch part of the lock, i.e., that part that moves up and down and sticks out the top rear. As far as I can tell, there is no way to get that back latch part without removing the curved vertical part inside where the lock cylinder inserts.

Gary

[Wayne M.]

Re: 66 Glove Box Door Lock Broken

Mike,

Can you clarify which lock part you're referring to as the catch? When I remove the lock cylinder from one of these glove box locks, what I see inside is as a curved vertical piece that can be pushed in (this is what moves rearward when the push button is installed and pushed in). This curved vertical piece blocks access to the latch part of the lock, i.e., that part that moves up and down and sticks out the top rear. As far as I can tell, there is no way to get that back latch part without removing the curved vertical part inside where the lock cylinder inserts.

Gary

I'll replay this recent pic, so that all can visualize the parts Gary is mentioning.

Also have a question: my early '65 has a chromed barrel, but not my late car. Are the chromed ones original ?

[Gary B.]

Re: 66 Glove Box Door Lock Broken

Wayne,

What do you mean by your "late" car. A mid-year? Or are you talking about the rear compartments locks on '68 and newer cars?
Based on my observations, chrome ones are original for the mid-year cases, but not for the cases on rear locks on C3's.

Gary

[Gary B.]

Wayne: PS to my last posting

Wayne,

Do you see any way to remove the vertical latch part at the upper rear by accessing it from inside the case?

Gary

[Wayne M.]

Re: Wayne: PS to my last posting

Wayne,

Do you see any way to remove the vertical latch part at the upper rear by accessing it from inside the case?

Gary

Gary -- by "late" I meant late 1965; so looks like I should have chrome barrels on both.

Just examined those cases shown in pic. No, it seems like the vertical latch part is in a cast chamber completely separate from the tumbler. That little curved lever that the tumbler assy pushes on (when you push in on the glove box button) contacts the vertical latch via a narrow slot in the casting; ie. no room to pull anything out the front.

But then I can't figure out how the vertical latch is held by a spring in the extended (up) position -- can't see where the spring is, or could be, for the life of me. I'd have to destroy the item to get my answer.

[Gary B.]

Re: Wayne: PS to my last posting

Wayne,

It's easier to see on some cases than others, but the spring is located at the left of the vertical latch that comes up out of top rear. The spring is kept in place by the same staked area on the left hand side looking down from the top that keeps the latch in place.

Gary

[Michael A.]

Re: 66 Glove Box Door Lock Broken

Gary,
Based on your descripion and Wayne's pictures, the part that appears to be broken on mine is the "Latch". It is the that is supposed to move down when you depress the glove box "button" (probably not the correct term!). It also springs back up to engage with the striker plate to keep the door from flopping open.

Take a look at the picture attached to my original posting. You'll see the top part of the "latch" is still in place but it no longer moves down when the button is depressed. The broken piece to the right fell out of the bottom, directly underneath the latch. I did not take it apart, but my guess is that the broken part broke off of the latch casting. It is the part that the lever pushes against to pull down the latch when you depress the button.

All that being said, I'm in a bit of a time crunch to get the car ready for a trip so I followed up on John Hinckley's suggestion and sent it off to Pat Krause. I expect to hear from him this week. I'll post back when I get the finished product.

Cheers,

[Mike M.]

Re: 66 Glove Box Door Lock Broken

OK, so we are all on the same page, I looked it up. Let's call the thing that has two screws in the door frame the catch and the thing in the lockset the latch.
Wow! I didn't realize there was going to be a memory test.
My latch was broken in the middle, the exposed part fell out and the remainder was retained by that semi-circular pivot that activates the latch down when the button is pushed.
When I removed the lockset, I was able to push that spring loaded pivot back enough for the piece to pull out. Reverse procedure for installing the new one.
Yes, mid-year cases were all chromed.
HaND

[Gary B.]

63 Glove Box Lock case

"Yes, mid-year cases were all chromed."

Mike,

Even the early '63 cases with that had the large round bezel?

Gary

[Michael A.]

Re: 66 Glove Box Door Lock Broken

Gary & All Who Were Interested,
I received the repaired glove box lock/latch today and it looks good as new, complete with original chrome case. I installed it tonight and it works fine.

Pat Krause was a pleasure to work with, quick and reasonable. I highly recommend him to anyone with a similar problem. His contact phone number is in the earlier posting from John Hinckley.

Thanks to all who assisted. One more item crossed off of the list!

Cheers