New Door Latches

[DentalDart]

Are the door latches the same on the 68 and the 69 dodge dart?

I need some, for my 69 but AMD only “makes” them for the 68. unless I seal them from the black parts car, just the parts car doos are all buggard and I’m not sure if the door latches are damaged or “not centered” anymore.

Thanks!

 

[DentalDart]

Found old threads- 68 and 69 have different door latch mechanisms.

Thanks

 

[Dana67Dart]

I seem to recall that at some point the lock function changed like you could push the door lock button down and close the door and it would stay locked.


Why do you suspect yours might be toast

 

[DentalDart]

I seem to recall that at some point the lock function changed like you could push the door lock button down and close the door and it would stay locked.


Why do you suspect yours might be toast

Because the doors on the black car are both all busted up, also it’s a 68 on the black car and I need some for a 69.

I think from past threads it says they don’t interchange?

[Found!] - 69 Dart Driver Side Door Latch Needed

[Found!] - 1968 A-Body Drivers side Door Latch Mechanism

 

[DentalDart]

I seem to recall that at some point the lock function changed like you could push the door lock button down and close the door and it would stay locked.


Why do you suspect yours might be toast

I also probably need all the parts inside the door. Maybe I can salvage everything from the black car, and my 69 can just have what ever the 68 stuff is. Idk. I assume I should send latches in the doors to the paint shop this week.

 

[4spdragtop]

This is cuda related, but are probably same as Dart. Its a want ad i started when looking for 69 door handle, I had 67/8. Heres the link, hopefully some helpful comparison info.
[WANTED] - 69 door latch

 

[Dana67Dart]

Some sleuthing....


67/68

1. Inside door handle
2. Inside push button
3. Outside key lock
4. Outside door handle push button (not visible in this photo but has the ball stud on it)

Because the inside lock button got moved forward a rocker assembly was needed to convert vertical motion to horizontal.


Push down on the button and the horizontal rod moves forward.

I. The 69 on the left #2 is moved to convert the horizontal rod movement to vertical movement of the lever that locks and unlocks the latch

On the 67/8 style the lock button moves vertically pushing down on #2 causing the lever to lock the latch.

 

[DentalDart]

So theoretically, since I have no inner door parts on this car… could I use 68s and convert it to the earlier style?

I have brand new inner and outer handles and 69 door cards though. Would that matter?

 

[cudamark]

'68 and '69-up latches are different because the inside lock knob position and mechanism changed. '67 might work for the '68, but the part number is different. '70 LH latch is the same as a 69 LH, but, the RH has a different part number for some reason. 4 DR latches are different than the 2 DR latches.

 

[4spdragtop]

I liken this to pulleys. If you start to mix n match it can lead down a rabbit hole lol.
@Vaanth is an encyclopedia, he may be able to help?

 

[slantsixdan]

I seem to recall that at some point the lock function changed like you could push the door lock button down and close the door and it would stay locked.

'71. They spun it as a great new benefit called "keyless locking", which is marketer-ese for "We saved 2¢ per car by deleting the mechanism which prevented you locking your keys in the car".

 

[Dana67Dart]

So theoretically, since I have no inner door parts on this car… could I use 68s and convert it to the earlier style?

I have brand new inner and outer handles and 69 door cards though. Would that matter?

I believe BUT I have NEVER looked into it. If you drill a new push lock hole in the correct location for 68 you SHOULD be able to use the entire 68 door guts in a 69 door shell.


door card SHOULD not matter the handles SHOULD be in the same locations

NOTICE all the Capitol BUT, NEVER, NOTICE and SHOULDS!!!! I don't have any first hand info on this.

If you have both doors 68 and 69 do some detailed comparison. there will be something to mount the rocker assy #66 in above photo in a 69 door that should not be in a 67-68 door

 

[Dana67Dart]

'71. They spun it as a great new benefit called "keyless locking", which is marketer-ese for "We saved 2¢ per car by deleting the mechanism which prevented you locking your keys in the car".

Ii knew they did that at some point thanks for the year!

 

[Dana67Dart]

This is a 73 and newer (might be the same as 69-72 if the ball stud was attached)

I bet the blue circle and arrow hole could be used for the 67-68 inside lock button

1. Inside door handle
2. Inside push button
3. Outside key lock
4. Outside door handle push button (note the lack of the ball stud )

 

[DentalDart]

I liken this to pulleys. If you start to mix n match it can lead down a rabbit hole lol.
@Vaanth is an encyclopedia, he may be able to help?

I liken this to pulleys. If you start to mix n match it can lead down a rabbit hole lol.
@Vaanth is an encyclopedia, he may be able to help?

Is it mix and matching if I’m mixing all 68 with nothing from 69?

 

[Dana67Dart]

Is it mix and matching if I’m mixing all 68 with nothing from 69?

Not if it all fits and works!

 

[Dana67Dart]

If the push button in directly above these holes they might be the holes for the rocker mechanism #66

 

[Dana67Dart]

Make a hole template from each door push button location and transfer it to your 69 doors. Then weld up the OEM holes.

 

[DentalDart]

Ok the door stuff is making a little more sense to me, I didn’t realize the door shells were different too. So yes the 68 button is further back than the 69, and the 69 has the extra hole… well dang. I guess I’ll have to find another 69 door, I have an extra one in my shop, it may have some good guts in it.

 

[str12-340]

The basic latch mechanism remains the same. I converted a set of these 68 latches for my 70 Dart. With the new and old latches in hand you can make the conversion.

PS: looks like you need a set of the braces that are sold to go inside the door to keep the sheet metal from distorting around the door handle. (Dynamic Renovation??? - same company that makes the one to go under the side view mirrors)

 

[DentalDart]

The basic latch mechanism remains the same. I converted a set of these 68 latches for my 70 Dart. With the new and old latches in hand you can make the conversion.

PS: looks like you need a set of the braces that are sold to go inside the door to keep the sheet metal from distorting around the door handle. (Dynamic Renovation??? - same company that makes the one to go under the side view mirrors)

I don’t have any old 69 latches… well I have 1 but it’s nasty from a nasty rusty door, so I dont think I’ll use it. I actually believe I may have found some latch’s and inner door parts locally.

Are those braces normally in the car? Or is it a new thing?

Edit- this? It’s for the B-body, is it the same?

 

[str12-340]

That's the ones!

Are those braces normally in the car? Or is it a new thing?

they never came in a stock car. They expect you to weld them in, but I have put them in and just bolted it all together to good effect
They also make a great kit to replace the captured nut and surrounding metal around the strike post for the door that have failed on lots of our cars...

 

[Dana67Dart]

This difference is irrelevant.

If you drill the new hole in the 68 spot for the push button and fill in the 69 holes. Everything easy should line up

Test it out on your spare door with the guts from the 68

 

[Dana67Dart]

Purists will give you **** for having a 68 door on a 69 but you have a tough skin!