drummingrocks
Member
It seems like almost every Mustang I've owned has cracks around the door latch where it bolts into the door. I know they make repair plates for '65-66s and '67-68s, but does anyone have any ideas how to fix this area on a '69? I thought about cutting out the cracked area--and believe me, it's horribly cracked, and has been "fixed" by a previous owner with HUGE washers covering the broken bolt-holes--but I'm not sure how to go about replicating the countersunk holes that were there originally.
Has anyone successfully fixed this before? I'd love to save both doors, if possible; they're decent useable doors otherwise!
Has anyone successfully fixed this before? I'd love to save both doors, if possible; they're decent useable doors otherwise!
once you have your patch panel cut & welded in with the latch mounting holes drilled, take one of the bolts/tapered screws that mount the latch, go to the hardware store & buy a couple tapered screws the same size, just longer & find a nut that will fit it. then find a piece of tubing w/ the inside opening diameter the same size as the outer edge of the taper needed. put the screw thru the hole, slide on the tubing & center it, drop a couple flat washers on then the nut. carefully tighten the nut & it will start pulling the tapered screw into the hole & forming the recess. continue to tighten & pull the taper in to the desired depth. sometimes the little sleeves that go inside the shock mount bushings work well for this proceedure, but might not be the correct size for the taper needed. worse scenario, find a couple small pieces of 1/4" steel & drill the desired hole size needed. if this is still foggy, P.M. for my phone number & i'll explain further details. should take a couple hours at the most to patch both doors. not sure where you are located, but if close, i can fix these for you.