1973 Datsun 240Z Door Latch Repair and more

The door on my 240Z project gets a latch repair, some sound deadening, and new window channel. See the disassembly and reassembly.

[@mohabatkhanmalak1161]

Awesome repair, it pays to keep those little hardware items, springs, screws, bolts n nuts etc. Your 240Z is looking nice, just to think that it is 50 years old is amazing.

[@Jack-gy7cs]

When you showed the broken spring, I thought to myself, just make one it will probably be better than the original anyway. I'm sure this 11 minute video took most of a day to make. I can appreciate that. Well done on the video and on the Z.

[@albertomorales9493]

Great Video A ++++ Wish mine was as easy too fix as yours. I have an 83 280ZX and the mechanism is slightly different. No luck yet on fixing mine, since the spring is slightly different..... thanks for the inspiration though...

[@DickShaw]

You're welcome. Thanks for watching and good luck with yours.

[@mikegrizwold2522]

I have the same problem with my Z. Thanks for the tip. Been bugging me for a while now😎

[@SadowMan1231]

My new favorite channel love seeing you restore this car I have a 1977 280z I’m in the process is doing the same love the detailed video so cool Seeing how you even made a spring instead of buying a new latch

[@user-hr4oe4ij8f]

Hi Dick - Excellent video. Can you recommend a type of lube for the window mechanism inside the door, and maybe the lock mechanism? Thanks.

[@DickShaw]

Thanks for watching. I have used this product for a lot of stuff and it seems to work pretty good. www.amazon.com/AGS-SIL-Glyde-Multi-Purpose-All-Weather-Lubricating/dp/B000KXLR5E/ref=sr_1_1?adgrpid=1333708174393267&hvadid=83356975361210&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=75773&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvtargid=kwd-83357115612167%3Aloc-190&hydadcr=26614_11664238&keywords=sil+glyde&qid=1691030485&sr=8-1 You can find it under different names and tube sizes but it is a silicone based lubricating grease. Hope this helps.

[@TheSaturnV]

Hey Dick, can you tell us what MIL thickness Kilmat you used and maybe an approximate square footage needed for our Z's? Great video.

[@DickShaw]

Thanks for watching. I used .080 thickness and it depends on how much of the car you intend to cover as far as how much square footage. Best to just use a tape measure and figure it out. I put it on the forward part of the floors, inside the doors, inside the rear quarter panels and a little under the rear hatch.

[@dudelikeomgz]

What seals are you using for the door jam? I did mine but now the door doesn't close without slamming it

[@DickShaw]

Yep that's what happens. I used Precision Rubber brand which seems to be pretty good. I have installed mine and the doors require much more force to close them. This is normal because it takes a while for the rubber to compress and take a set to the way your door is adjusted. Don't worry though it will get better over time and when summer gets here, they will close easier because warm rubber is more flexible than cold. Thanks for watching!

[@cabrina2816]

Ｐｒⓞм𝕠𝕤𝐌 🏃

[@56Brew]

Could you help me? 72 240z...my door latches aren't smooth while shutting either door. The first click is smooth. Second click the door has to be slammed. I've slightly massaged that indent like others have suggested but still have to roughly shut my doors. Please help.

[@DickShaw]

Hello, sorry for the delay, I was out of town. It is hard to tell without looking at your door in person what the problem might be. I would suggest putting some thin tape like scotch tape or packing tape over the strikers and maybe other areas and then shutting the door. When you open it back up it should be evident where it is binding or catching because the tape will be torn. Then you can determine the best course of action/adjustment. You've probably already checked this but if your hinges are badly worn and letting the door sag, this could be the problem as well. Let me know how it goes and good luck with it.

[@tthams73]

You just put that sound deadener right over the top of all that rust. That wasn’t a good idea

[@DickShaw]

Ha! you are very observant. As I noted in the video, I cleaned the area before applying the mat. The rust was only on the surface and was fairly minor, not flaky or pitted. The mat effectively seals it so moisture will not be getting to it in the future causing it to rust even more. And the rust was not over the entire surface - there was some clean metal in there as well. Thanks for watching and for the comment. But I do agree that it would be better if there were no rust at all. :)