Road Trip

[7212Mopar]

Could be vandalism, like crazy glue, super glue stuff.

[VTMopar]

I doubt it was vandalism.....  Was parked in a very secure area.      feels like it is stuck between being locked and unlocked......  I've soaked it as best I can with WD 40 from above.....   

Assuming I cannot get this thing unstuck......what do I do?     How can I open the door? 

 

Today I drove from Ft Meyers to Panama City....  About 500 miles.   Nice area here.....the beaches are nice and folks very friendly.   Car ran great....but it is a real pain to crawl across the center counsel to get in and out the passenger door......and I'm not all that graceful at it either          It is going to get real old very fast!

ANY Suggestions on that lock are appreciated!!!!

Vt Mopar

[spamtank]

If you roll the window down, is it possible to look down inside?


Here's a few pages that show the latch and lock mechanism to provide some clues on where to work from.

http://challenger.mpoli.fi/board/download/file.php?id=5786&sid=0b2e90532dfe7db7ea97c54cef8cbb0f&mode=view

http://challenger.mpoli.fi/board/download/file.php?id=5785&sid=0b2e90532dfe7db7ea97c54cef8cbb0f&mode=view

Seems like if you can get down to the lock latching mechanism with a coat hanger, you should be able to move the lever arm up or down.

Good luck, what a bummer.

Rick

[7212Mopar]

Assume you can insert the key, try some carb cleaner with the red tube into the slot. It might dissolve whatever gump up. Just be careful not to get any on the paint. Good luck.

[shoooter]

WOW looks like a great time VT Mopar! Take your time and take in everything you can! enjoy yourself. As for your door. My passenger side was doing the same thing and i couldnt find anything different from the drivers side. Nothing was sticking when apart i just sprayed everything and gave it a good pull. Hope you figure it out and get on the road again

[VTMopar]

I've removed all the fasteners i can from the door panel and so have a 2 inch gap to see down into the latch mechanism.      I and a mechanic used long screwdrivers to move the parts that should unlock or lock ..... As well as those that open (move ) the latch itself.     I even nearly removed the other (passenger side) door panel so we could get a good look at how the other mechanism works......

The handle moves as if it is unlocked.......and you can see those parts of the mechanism move as they should. When you pull the handle and look down at the latch, there are a couple of "dogs" that move as they should......but it isn't releasing the latch on the door jamb.

Ugh!!!!

[torredcuda]

If the mechanisms are moving it could just be jammed up.Try jacking the car up a little right under the door jamb and try to open the door,could be a slight sag in the body binding things up.It doesn`t take much to make jam it up.ALso try having one person pull up on the latch and another kick (gently) the door from the inside.

[spamtank]

Have you tried pushing in on the door while lifting the handle?

Maybe taking some of the spring load off the latch mechanism may help.

Might also try lightly (at first until frustration get the best of you ) tapping on the latch mechanism with a hammer and a long screw driver while working the handle.

[71gogreen]

try pulling on the rod to release stuck jamb and pull up on handle at the same time.I thing the jamb lock is in the wrong position

[VTMopar]

All good ideas.......   Especially jacking the car.      I once had trouble opening the door when I left her overnight on a rather steep incline...  It is a vert, so has some extra flex.   

  I'm going to tackle this hard today as I got 500 miles in yesterday, and I've got time to tinker.    Now all I have to do is find me a shade tree somewhere!

Thanks to all for the good suggestions....

Vt Mopar

[Got JOB]

If you do get the door open, check the brass wedge slide in the door jam and make sure it is sliding. Also make sure the plastic wedge is on the door. These help take the pinch factor out of the doors on the verts.

[Got JOB]

Hope the door problem is better. There are a few events in the southern Alabama area in the next few weeks that might interest you. Mopars at the Battleship in Mobile on April 27, Bama Coast Cruise April 25, 26, 27 in Orange Beach Alabama. In Alexander City, Alabama which is north of where you are is Wellborn Musclecar Museum. It's open Tues.-Sat. He has a large collection of '71 Hemi Chargers, other Mopars and muscle cars. May 3-5 show and cruise in Ft. Walton-Destin Fl.

Ricky

[VTMopar]

Door is fixed        Found a real gentleman nicknamed "Mr. Orangeman". (Don Humbolt) in Panama City who has a terrific classic car shop and some great guys who got it unstuck.     We had to jack it up a few times, different angles..... And pull very hard ..... But got it.    It seems the convertible wedge was loose and the door got hung up on it.....     So I'm very thankful, as sliding across the console every time I stopped for gas ( which is with some level of frequency) was getting old, and a little hard on the back.     The Orangeman how a 67 GTX that is very sweet.....pushing 1100 hp.   Many thanks to Don and his guys for helping me out

Got JOB....  Thanks for the ideas in Alabama....I'm headed to Montgomery area today and will look for the museum.    Unfortunately, my schedule is such that I will have to miss the other events you noted.....  Thanks!

And many thanks to everyone here who offered ideas and suggestions on fixing the door.   I very much appreciate all the support! 

Now on to Alabama, Mississippi and then to Austin Texas later this week.

Vt Mopar

[brads70]

    great news!!!

[JayBee]