The Ford Barn

Ed in Maine · 07-16-2025, 08:43 AM

Yesterday, I finally got the striker plates mounted on the door jams and was able to close the doors and have them latch perfectly since 2015, the year I started dismantling the car. It was a wonderful moment! As we all know, the open Ford cars have door columns that are extended structures. When you close the doors, you can feel how mushy or springy they feel. I got the idea to make the doors feel more solid by mounting an 8 in. x 2 in. x 3/4 in. lead bar (about 3-4 lb.s) on the back side of the wooden door columns as close to the striker plates as possible. I used (3) flat head 5/16 in. countersunk machine screws, lock washers and nuts to bolt the lead bars to the column. They will be hidden by the upholstery panels behind the seats. When the doors are now closed, they feel like they are on a Packard! I would recommend this modification during a restoration. Ed

07-16-2025, 08:43 AM	#1
Ed in Maine Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cty., ME or Flagler Cty., FL Posts: 1,193	A Major Mile Stone with the Restoration of 31 Cabriolet Yesterday, I finally got the striker plates mounted on the door jams and was able to close the doors and have them latch perfectly since 2015, the year I started dismantling the car. It was a wonderful moment! As we all know, the open Ford cars have door columns that are extended structures. When you close the doors, you can feel how mushy or springy they feel. I got the idea to make the doors feel more solid by mounting an 8 in. x 2 in. x 3/4 in. lead bar (about 3-4 lb.s) on the back side of the wooden door columns as close to the striker plates as possible. I used (3) flat head 5/16 in. countersunk machine screws, lock washers and nuts to bolt the lead bars to the column. They will be hidden by the upholstery panels behind the seats. When the doors are now closed, they feel like they are on a Packard! I would recommend this modification during a restoration. Ed