I put new door latches on my 1970 Cutass and now they will not latch. I'm pretty sure the posts are lining up but it acts like they're hitting solid metal when you try to close the door. Can the post go bad and not allow the latch to close?

 

Sounds like the striker needs to be aligned. I believe they move in out up down and left right

 

Yea Ive tried aligning I am familiar with this but it doesn't matter where I put it the latch will not close around it

 

Your latches are closed.

Try pressing the buttons on the door handles, and maybe giving them a little help to snap open (make sure your lock buttons are up).

- Eric

 

1st is open
2nd is closed
3rd is post. shows wear but works.
Do the new latches match the ones you took out?
Maybe try to insert the (removed post from the body) into the latch and see if it will latch. If everything worked before you changed the latches the new latches themselves may be the problem. Good luck.

 

I have cycled them manually and removed the post and inserted it manually to make sure it fit in the latch. As far as working before the car has been sitting for several years and the doors were stuck shut,I had to release the latches from inside the door with a hammer and a long flat bar,as a matter of fact I still do not have the passenger door open yet

 

Is it a convertible?
Is there any frame damage?
If you grab the door and lift, does it move? maybe the hinges are worn and the doors are sagging. Evidence of that will be flat spots on the top of the post.

 

no sagging doors , no frame damage, just large amounts of rust It is a Cutlass Supreme non convertible, going to give opgi a call tomorrow to see if there is any history of this with these latches before

 

Its definitely a mystery. Let us know what you find out. Good luck.

 

Same problem on my 66 .Body Mounts.Changed the whole Dynamics.

 

Got it. I had to add another washer to the post to move it out a little farther and its working sweet now

 

Great!

- Eric