To Joe Lucia etal need help with door locks

[David E.]

I have had my 63 since 1984. The door locks have never been "right".
When I first got the car the door key was horizontal when unlocked. I never tried to repair this situation when I did a restoration I completed 8 years ago. I was unsuccessful after a limited amount of effort so I put it off until later which is now.

Here is what i think I know.
1. The cylinder rod has to move up to lock the door.
2. The key goes in teeth facing down and rotates to the right to lock which raises the cylinder rod.
3. I think I know from the parts breakdown that I have that the cylinder goes into the door with the part the rod attaches to facing the front of the car. The locks that I have face just the opposite.. Which direction does the right side face?

I ordered new rods( the cylinder rod and the one that goes to the manual door lock control to the latch assy. They are both longer than the ones that were on there. The old ones "look" old. original?

I took out the keeper for the cylinder rod attachment and rotated it 180 deg. so it faces the front of the car when the cylinder is installed.

When I hook everything up it doesn't work. The geometry doesn't seem right with the cylinder rod where it fits into the cylinder trying to rotate up to the locked position. It only moves about half of the way.

What I need.
1. HELP!
2. Wow how hard can this be? It has me stumped though.
3. Does anyone have a drawing that shows the cylinder, rod and the other end of the rod attached to the lock mechanism?
4. Am I right in my assumtions?
5. Does it matter which direction the rods are attached...inside out or outside in?
Thanks,
David

[Joe L.]

Re: To Joe Lucia etal need help with door locks

I have had my 63 since 1984. The door locks have never been "right".
When I first got the car the door key was horizontal when unlocked. I never tried to repair this situation when I did a restoration I completed 8 years ago. I was unsuccessful after a limited amount of effort so I put it off until later which is now.

Here is what i think I know.
1. The cylinder rod has to move up to lock the door.
2. The key goes in teeth facing down and rotates to the right to lock which raises the cylinder rod.
3. I think I know from the parts breakdown that I have that the cylinder goes into the door with the part the rod attaches to facing the front of the car. The locks that I have face just the opposite.. Which direction does the right side face?

I ordered new rods( the cylinder rod and the one that goes to the manual door lock control to the latch assy. They are both longer than the ones that were on there. The old ones "look" old. original?

I took out the keeper for the cylinder rod attachment and rotated it 180 deg. so it faces the front of the car when the cylinder is installed.

When I hook everything up it doesn't work. The geometry doesn't seem right with the cylinder rod where it fits into the cylinder trying to rotate up to the locked position. It only moves about half of the way.

What I need.
1. HELP!
2. Wow how hard can this be? It has me stumped though.
3. Does anyone have a drawing that shows the cylinder, rod and the other end of the rod attached to the lock mechanism?
4. Am I right in my assumtions?
5. Does it matter which direction the rods are attached...inside out or outside in?
Thanks,
David

David-----


I'm not familiar enough with the mid-year door lock system to be of any help here. Hopefully, others that have been "down this road" with a mid-year will have information for you.

How hard can this be? Well, door lock systems can be one of the most exasperating things on a car to figure out and get right. Right up there with adjusting side window glass and both are related to the doors.

[David D.]

Re: To Joe Lucia etal need help with door locks

David,
Well I just got through about 2 hours ago, taking my friends '64 drivers door panel off. The reason was, he has no key, so we needed to get the numbers off his cylinder so he can have some keys made. I kept saying to myself that we should have taken pictures, but as you can guess, we didn't. Good lesson for me from now on though.....

So here is what I can try to describe as I remember, again speaking solely about the drivers side. Looking at the inside of the door panel at the lock.

Based on what you wrote.
1. The cylinder rod has to move up to lock the door. I believe you're correct but we never tried the lock to be sure
2. The key goes in teeth facing down and rotates to the right to lock which raises the cylinder rod. Again, I believe you are correct
3. I think I know from the parts breakdown that I have that the cylinder goes into the door with the part the rod attaches to facing the front of the car. This was how it was for us. Definitely faces front of car. If you're talking about the 'rod that attaches from actual lock to the door key hardware.

To continue...The lock is held into and against the outside door panel by a thin metal piece. It's probably 3 inches long and 1 1/2 wide. It has a hole a bit larger than the lock cylinder and is spring loaded. The one we had started with it totally towards the front of the car and then as you push it rearward it slides behind a couple tangs on the lock cylinder and this is what holds the lock in place. Not sure if that explains, and sorry I don't have the pictures.

David

[Joe R.]

Re: To Joe Lucia etal need help with door locks

I have a simpler solution; GET A 54!

[David E.]

Re: To Joe Lucia etal need help with door locks

Thanks Joe for replying. Also thanks to others that have replied so far...this problem has got me stumped so I hope someone will havce the answers.
Thanks,
David

[David D.]

Re: To Joe Lucia etal need help with door locks

I have a simpler solution; GET A 54!

Joe, (easy for you to say)

I'd love to, BUT.....

• I can't afford one (Trying to live on Disability pay-Stinks)
• I can't fit in one (I'm 6'4" and weigh 230lbs)

Now if someone had a new '06-'08 Z06, I might take a long, slow, painful serious wife beatin to get me one of them.

David

[Terry M.]

Re: To Joe Lucia etal need help with door locks

Now if someone had a new '06-'08 Z06, I might take a long, slow, painful serious wife beatin to get me one of them.

David

David If you had an '06-'08 Z06, or any Corvette model of those years, you wouldn't have to worry about door locks -- there are none.

[David E.]

Re: To Joe Lucia etal need help with door locks

Terry,
I suppose I can just fiberglass over the lock holes.

[Joe R.]

Re: To Joe Lucia etal need help with door locks

Hey David Duell, I'm 6 ft. and 225 Lbs, and I just drive her with the top down!

[David D.]

Re: To Joe Lucia etal need help with door locks

Joe,
Tell you what. Be a pal and drive the '54 to Carlisle and I'll take her for a short but gentle spin and let ya know what I think.

In all seriousness, Do you wear goggles or glasses to keep the bugs etc....out of your eyes? What do you do if it rains?

Later,David

[Joe R.]

Re: To Joe Lucia etal need help with door locks

On your last point, read my new post

Regarding Carlisle, I can't attend, but will take a "rain check" on that.

[David D.]

Re: To Joe Lucia etal need help with door locks

On your last point, read my new post

Regarding Carlisle, I can't attend, but will take a "rain check" on that.

Joe,
Done Deal.

btw - I read it.....Never heard them called "bathtubs". So does the word RAIN check have any double meaning?

Later

[David E.]

Re: To Joe Lucia etal need help with door locks

If anyone is in the process of restoring a 63/64 I would appreciate your help. Thanks,
David

[Bob R.]

Re: To Joe Lucia etal need help with door locks

It was about 3 years ago when I took the locks out of my 63 but I did have a problem with the install. I believe the locks for the left and right doors are different. If you put the left lock on the right door you can make it work but it will function backwards. Check and see if you have the wrong lock on the door. Someone may have used the wrong part at some time.

[Joe L.]

Re: To Joe Lucia etal need help with door locks

It was about 3 years ago when I took the locks out of my 63 but I did have a problem with the install. I believe the locks for the left and right doors are different. If you put the left lock on the right door you can make it work but it will function backwards. Check and see if you have the wrong lock on the door. Someone may have used the wrong part at some time.

Bob-----


The locks are definitely side-specific; that's for sure.