HELP...I seem to be fighting a losing battle with my 58

[RustyNCa]

I have been trying to get the passenger door to latch correctly. It will latch on the first notch, but only on the second if you get the door closed just right from the outside.

[byersmtrco]

Hmm, sounds like it needs lubrication. Try that 1st. Use Litheum(spl/chk) Lube or something similar. It could be out of adj too. You cant adj the latch, but you can adj the striker (post) Just back off the screw and it will move around.
It sounds like its too tight. Adj it out a hair.

[RustyNCa]

Hmm, sounds like it needs lubrication. Try that 1st. Use Litheum(spl/chk) Lube or something similar. It could be out of adj too. You cant adj the latch, but you can adj the striker (post) Just back off the screw and it will move around.
It sounds like its too tight. Adj it out a hair.

I have adjusted the striker all over the place trying to get it to work. Last night I moved the car and the door shut like a charm.... Actually I have been fighting this door since I got the car.

thanks for the help, I will get to lubricating it. You are I assume talking about the latch, not the striker?

[byersmtrco]

Yep. Lube the latch. How are the door hinges? Does the door sag (drop) when you open it? That could cause an alignment problem. I think you can re-bush those hinges (Not sure)

[RustyNCa]

Yep. Lube the latch. How are the door hinges? Does the door sag (drop) when you open it? That could cause an alignment problem. I think you can re-bush those hinges (Not sure)

Hmm, I am pretty sure it doesn't sag, but when I started messing with the striker alignment I did notice that when you close the door the striker lifts the door up. But when you phyisically lift up the door it just lifts the car also...

I had one shop tell me to use a floor jack and a 2x4 under the center of the door and lift the door to bend the center..they seemed to think the door was bent down, well, all that did was lift the whole car off the ground, those are very strong doors...

[JohnG]

If you can't rebush right away but need to, you might put some shims in behind the hinges on the lower one to bring the door up a tad. nothing to lose and not hard to do.

John