I assume I am missing something - swb door latch

[MTemp]

Something tells me that when my door latches came back from being plated, despite what Mr. Plater said, something has dissolved in the process.
Am I right in thinking there should be another piece of plastic/rubber/bakelite etc in the bottom section of my door latches - see photo below?

I say this because when the part on the door itself - the lobed shaped bit - goes into the latch there is nothing to start it turning down, and so it just contacts the metal surround for the bottom bolt that you can see in the bottom of the photo.

If so can anyone take a photo of the inside of a correct latch so I can see what I'm missing. I assume this insert is unobtanium, and that latches are NLA and that secondhand ones are rarer than a rare thing, and more expensive than a really expensive thing - so I'll be making an insert out of acrylic plastic or something and super-gluing it in there. Any dimensions or diagrams that anyone is prepared to make would also be really helpful.

And refitting the doors was going so well.....

Thanks
Mick

[dporsche74]

Yes missing the bottom plastic peice
I just replaced mine easy easy .
the door would not close.
now working good.

Ecklers had them for 21 bucks. but they are black now

[MTemp]

Thanks, thought so.

When you say replaced - with new or with a DIY insert? If the latter any tips on shape, what you made it from etc etc?
If new .... who are Ecklers, as I've not heard of them before

Mick

[preS]

Try to find a Weltmeister kit. They are the white but I believe NLA, so you have to find some old stock.

Richard

[dporsche74]

Yes i just replaced the insert plastic peices. they were dry rotted and crumbled.

one kit comes with the upper and lower plastic peices. the SWB splits apart very easily

Eckler automotion catolgs parts
http://www.automotion.com/striker-pl...1965-1968.html

[andyjboy]

Mick - you can buy 'striker repairl kits' for swb models from various places here in the UK such as Roger Bray, etc.

[304065]

Mick, do not worry. You should disassemble the strikers, the back metal piece pops off the cover with gentle persuasion. Inside you will find a couple of bolsters that the screws go through, a spring, and the two piece plastic latch. The latch repair kits are available. Don't lose the spring or the bolsters. You should remove all rust and gently polish the striker cover-- the plating will not cover any surface imperfections, so start with a finish that you want to end up with.

You should also source some correct oval-head, philips-drive M8 screws. The ones you have are 67-

[MTemp]

Thanks to all for your responses - I will get a repair kit from the UK.

You should also source some correct oval-head, philips-drive M8 screws. The ones you have are 67-

Re the above, well this car has been up to now about as original as it is possible to get, and these are what was on the car so I'm fairly sure they are too. There was no evidence that the latches/striker plates had been replaced and the 12 spline screws are the same on both sides.

Mick

[Soterik]

There's an overlap on this latch with the Karmann Ghia. This parts page may be of some help to you, or not....

http://www.mtmfg.com/category/view/92

[rory gallagher]

Stoddard has a rebuild kit with spring and white plastic parts.