Door Latch Help

[BuickGS65]

Hi Guys:

My passenger side door latch is acting up.  The door won't close all the way and "latch".  In other words, the door will close (but not all the way) and "sort of" catch on the striker, but it won't completely close.  You can manually take your finger and flip the the door latch mechanism exposed at the end of the door (the door latch part that should wrap around the door striker when closed/locked - kinda looks like "pac-man" -- the "mouth" of the door latch) but there is little resistance. I have the door panel off.  No parts have fallen off, and all the appropriate rods appear to be where they need to be.  Hopefully, I've described the problem good enough... So, what's the problem?  Just a bad door latch?

[Loren At 65GS]

Dan ,
Any chance the catch, aka striker ,has moved on the door jamb any? It doesn't need to be off but a very small amount and the latch won't finish closing.
Have you made any changes?
Wonder if Mark might have an extra latch from his most recent parts car?

Loren

[Mark Ascher]

Loren,

The latches on the parts car are toast. Everything on them is frozen solid. I had to cut the strikers to get the doors open.
I recall having a similar problem with a GM latch. There is a plastic "slide" inside the latch that breaks. I had to find a different one to fix the problem. I think (don't hold me to this) that all the a-body latches are the same, and I know they are reproduced.

Mark

[Loren At 65GS]

Mark,
It was worth tossing up there. Sounds like that parts car was rough, to say the least?

I'm sure there is at least one out in my shop/barn. Just don't know which box or where. That  company move 4 years ago, left me lost for locating my parts. You wouldn't believe how long it took me to find that 2x4 manifold out there. The moving company boxed and marked it all "c/p garage".

Dan,
 Good luck 

Loren

[Chris]

Dan,

Let me look around here and see what I can come up with.

I should have an extra latch laying around that I can throw in my suitcase and bring out that way next week.

Which side did you need (driver or passenger side?)

Chris

[Chris]

I've got you covered Dan (had one from a spare set of vert doors) and I'll see you either later on today or tomorrow.

Chris