Door Striker

[nicka]

How many washers are on a Door Striker for a '71 Barracuda?  The Body Service Manual only shows one. 

I'm doing a test fit of the passenger door.  First, I adjusted the door hinges.  I only got the first click and not the second.  I removed the striker and noticed 3 washers.  The first is thicker than the other two.    This car looks like it took a hit on the right side between the door, door jamb lock pillar and quarter.  When I pulled the quarter, I could see filler at the front center. The door jamb lock pillar looks wavy along the door. The door itself is full of mud.  The reason for the test fit was to align the Outer Cowl Side Hinge Panel.  Planning to drill sheet metal screws.

[Rich G.]

I don't believe the washers have anything to do with the door latching twice. That would be the forward and backwards adjustment. The washer moves it in and out to hit the latch properly. So put in what it takes to get it there. If the car was hit in the jam that would need to be addressed first.

[Chryco Psycho]

If for some reason the door seem short even tho the outer skin seems to line up well shimming the pin with an extra washer so it clears the extra thickness at the end of the pin is no big deal .
I believe I have seen more than 1 washer in there before & they look the same as the factory washers .

[7E-Bodies]

I just went through the exact same thing on my 70 Challenger. I ended up ordering a new pillar after jacking around with the dinged one for days. They are just too oddly shaped to ever get them right again. Mine had only about a one inch intrusion in that same spot. I'm sure glad I got another pillar and put it in. Very easy install. Removal of the old one takes a bit of time, but it's not complicated. Do tons of measurement FIRST!!!

[nicka]

I just noticed this a few minutes ago.  If you stand in front of the car and look at both strikers, I noticed the passenger side sticking out a bit and the drivers side looks straight.  I got my digital caliper out and measured the distance between the inside of the Door Jam Lock Pillar and the outer edge of the striker and noticed that the drivers side was 2.37"  out and passenger side was 2.42" out so the passenger side is sticking out a bit more hence the angle.

[Cuda Cody]

Only 1 washer.  You can shim the hinges to move the door back if needed.  Not always the best way, but you have options.

[SRT392]

have not looked at the service manual yet but i just tore my 70 cuda down and i know neither side has been hit. i found two washers on both doors and the original paint underneath. VERY difficult to remove as they were rusted up good. had to go inside with die grinder and wire wheel clean everything and then heat it just a bit and soaked it over night with ATF & Acetone. high degree of confidence they were factory installed and unmolested. 

[nicka]

I just got delivery of a new Door Jamb Lock Pillar. Wanted to see if I can get the famous "double click" before installing the part.  Well, first click no issue, but the only way I can get the double click is if it goes in tilted.  Not sure if you can see it, but the top half of the Door Jamb Lock Pillar sticks out while the lower portion sticks in.  This is no Bueno...

[nicka]

So here's a pic of the striker double locked into the door latch.  Bolt is tilted downwards.  Since I'm planning on installing a new door skin, I'll be able to access the inside of door and seeing if I can do some metal work around that area so that the striker slides in vertically. 
Any thoughts?

[gzig5]

Have you looked at the door on the other side to see if it is doing the same thing?  Striker pin hangs at an angle like that?  I've got my latch out of one door and will try that later tonight or this weekend.

[gzig5]

I just cleaned my latch assy out.  Took four trips through the unltra sonic tank but it functions well now.  I put the striker in and it looks pretty much like your pic.  the striker is threaded in to the door pillar so the latch just needs to close to a certain spot and hold the door against the weather stripping and bump stops.   The latch is not designed to grab hold of the pin, it just hooks around it.  Other than maybe being dirty inside, I doubt there is anything wrong with your latch.

[nicka]

So this morning checking the drivers side door and it locks with no issues.

First, I used the striker from the passenger side before installation just to see if it sits in straight and it does. It locks.   Next, I installed the drivers side door and it locks with no issues with the drivers side striker.  It's got a good gap along the outer rocker. 

Since the passenger side door area has seen some previous "whamo" action, the Door Jamb Lock Pillar is wavy,  the striker sticks out, and the striker sits in the latch at an angle, the plan will be replacing the Door Jamb, checking the Door Frame and eventually replacing the door skin.

Thanks all.

[nicka]

I agree about the latch being ok.   I think the Door Jamb and Door frame maybe the issue.

[nicka]

The striker bolt sits in the latch at an angle, thus the bottom of the bolt is up against the latch while there's a good size gap between the top of the bolt and latch. It also causes the spacer to come in at an angle.