THE73Z

Having never seen this part myself, I'm going off the following statement from EScanlon. "If you'll look on the door mechanism, you'll note that the "rotary" part, the one that gets pushed by the latch on the car, has two lobes. The first lobe points straight down when the door is open, and the second is pointing at the door. The first lobe SHOULD have a rubber "coat". Almost like if it had been a piece of tubing that got stretched over the lobe. That's the rubber that finishes the "sound" proofing on the door." This seems very likely to be the cause of a bad rattle I have with my otherwise perfectly aligned doors. Maybe I should just replace the latches - but something tell me junk yard latches won't be much better. Thanks, Z

Somebody must be able to help me with this one. Thanks, Z

Any one know the correct thickness of the rubber bushing (for lack of a better word) on the door latch where it contacts the striker plate? EScanlon? I'm trying to figure out if I can make one with heat shrink or vinyl tubing or if I have to scour the junk yards. A picture would be wonderfull since I've never seen this piece of rubber before. Thanks, Z

Great info. Thank you. How thick is the rubber? Would vinyl tubing or heat shrink suffice? Otherwise I guess I'll be scouring the junk yards. Thaks again, Z

I have a 73 Z with excellent paint and chrome that I would like to protect. The car lives indoors and came with a light weight cotton cover. But I am concerned about dings and scratches. Anyone have experience with or advice about heavy duty indoor covers such as durafin? My main concern is that it will breathe sufficiently in the rather humid environment here. http://www.carcovers.com/materials.html#durafin Thanks, Z

Could be a damn good WAG. I don't see any rubber on the latch mechanism - on either side, and the driver's door does have a bit of a rattle as well... but not as bad as the passenger side. The cone shaped bumpers are there but don't seem to be what you're talking about. A picture would be wonderful to confirm these suspicions and a source for new ones would be awesome! Thanks, Z

My passenger door has a bad (only over hard bumps in the road) rattle that I've traced, to the best of my ability, to the striker plate. The door sits perfectly in the door jam and the weather stripping is good. The striker plate is rotated all the way in at the bottom so there is no more adjustment left. It appears to me that the notch where the latch locks into the striker plate is slightly worn and therefore too wide - causing the rattle. My first thought is to buy another striker - so as not to ruin the original, and manipulate it if it is also worn. I would weld a bead on the edge that contacts the latch and then take it down slowly with a dremel until it seats properly. Question 1. Does this sound like the proper plan of attack? Question 2. How should I plate or coat the striker to prevent rust after I weld on it? Question 3. I assume there are threaded slugs inside the door jam that the striker bolts thread into. If I take these bolts out will the slugs stay in place or will they fall down into the body and ruin my day? Thanks, Z