Door Problem

[CVA59]

Anyone know how to get my drivers side door open? The gear latch in the door will not turn and the handle will not release it either. I have no clue how to get it open. It looks like the gear wheel inside the latch is rusted and froze up.

[jonzcustomshop]

roll the window down and spray down the inside of the latch with some pb blaster ,crc, or wd 40, really soak it. let it soak for a few hours, and maybe even repeat...

I had one stuck once, it was just jammed, not rusted, and finally had to have my wife pull on the handle with the button depressed while I kicked it open from the inside, took a few hits to get it even then....

[gloriavoxdei]

Or you could just cut the door off with sawzall around the latch. But then you'd still have the lock on the latch huh? Oh well, it would have been fun.

[jonzcustomshop]

Originally Posted by gloriavoxdei

Or you could just cut the door off with sawzall around the latch. But then you'd still have the lock on the latch huh? Oh well, it would have been fun.

we actually had to do that on a 56 chev wagon that laid on its side for years, cut an access hole right by the latch, and then tore into the latch to get the door open.

[CVA59]

This problem is driving me insane. I WANT to take a sledge hammer to it until i wear myself out. But instead, i am thinking of putting the brasing tip on my torch, slipping it in the crack and heat the tooth on the striker until it melts away. Maybe that will do it. I have already ripped the two bottom latch screws away from the door just from trying to free up the gear. If melting away the striker tooth doesn't work i will start butchering the door to get it loose. Thanks for the help guys.

[jonzcustomshop]

before you get too cazy...
you might try these things...

the heat might help free up the rust.
also try the heat inside the door on the inside of the latch, you might be able to reach to it with the window down.

also you could try pulling the cowl panel-inbetween the door and hood- you will only be able to get to 2 of the bolts, the other 2 are behind the door, but it might give you enough access to bend it alittle and get to the upper hinge bolts, and upper fender bolts, then you could pull the lower hinge bolts, and with the hinges off the body, the door should? fall off the striker...
worth a try..

[CVA59]

I had thought about that but since 2 of the bolts are behind the door i was unsure if i could in fact bend it enough to reach them . I will also look at that option this evening as well. In my 30+ years of restoring and building cars/trucks, I have never seen a situation like this with a door latch. I will let you know if any of this works.

Thanks,