The Ford Barn

duke36 · 08-02-2015, 07:59 PM

I've reviewed the informative posts about replacing/ repairing S/W town sedan
door latch mechanisms. The little S shaped spring that keeps ( I believe) 3 of the 4 door handles in the locking position is in need of replacement in possibly 2 of my doors. Can these be replaced without removing the window glass and regulators?
The windows, door latches at the jambs and the other related parts work great. I haven't removed the interior panel as of yet, hence the question.
The driver's door handle won't stay in the up, locked position and I don't want to disrupt anything else in the process. The front passenger door if I recall from the posts doesn't require a spring?

burner31 · 08-02-2015, 08:09 PM

I also have a '31 slant, but I'm to new with model A's to give you a fer sure answer to this question.
I plan on re-doing all my doors this winter, window channels, latches, bumpers, seals, basicly everything with the doors.
Please take some pics and post us on your progress, it will help me out and countless others,
Thanks

duke36 · 08-02-2015, 09:12 PM

Congrat's on your new purchase; these are one of my favorite A's due to their solid construction, though some of the parts are not as easy to find as other models. Salvage as many orig. parts as possible and try to "restore" those if you can for fit and finish for your particular car. Many of the parts vendors do a great job with what they supply but sometimes a little trimming or tweaking is required here and there as noted in other's posts, especially when it comes to slant window doors.

Bill Cilker · 08-02-2015, 10:49 PM

Within the last two years, Chuck Christensen wrote an article in the "Restorer" on this subject.

Kevin in NJ · 08-03-2015, 05:47 AM

The door handles sag because of wear. You might want to see what I did:

Slant door latches

The dovetails are functional and have to work a certain way. A&L sell the proper parts and springs. Some of the repro springs are too stiff. The sliders MUST be able to slide with moderate finger pressure. If not then the door will not shut properly and eventually tear up the door dovetail.

The rubbers for the slant doors are not right. They are too big in every direction. If anyone has good solution I am all ears on what works.

Ford1931 · 08-03-2015, 07:44 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

When I did my slant window, I found that several 32 Ford rubber parts matched the original slant window rubber. As I recall the top trim insert, the bottom of the doors, and the door bumpers and some others. Take your old parts and compare them with the V8 vendors.

MrBruce · 08-03-2015, 12:55 PM

I've rebuilt most of mine and made new stickers? Don't know if that is a correct name for them. I was told early on that you could swap the door mechanism from drivers door to passengers rear. Well looks like you can except the passenger front door can't be switched because of the locking mechanism. So, I have to switch it back as the door locked just from shutting it and wouldn't open with the key. I broke the windshield trying to get in. Someone on the Barn has pictures of the mechanism and highlighted the tabs where the right front door was different because of the lock. Hope this helps. MrBruce

160B · 08-03-2015, 01:48 PM

Here is a photo of the mechanism, one missing a spring and one with a spring.

I removed mine when I replaced the door glass with safety glass about 12 years ago. I also replaced several springs. As I recall it would be very difficult to replace the spring without removing the mechanism form the door.

duke36 · 08-03-2015, 08:21 PM

160b may have answered my initial question though thanks for the other inputs.
Fortunately I'm in good shape with the dovetails, rubbers,latches etc. My vague recollection from many years back is that the handle/lever mechanism can be unbolted and pivoted for access but can't remember if the glass was removed at the time or we stuffed cardboard there to protect it just to replace that nasty little spring.

jw hash · 08-04-2015, 10:15 AM

NO one makes a good replacement spring. I have replaced over a 100 of them, and the last batch of springs I bought, there was NO spring to them. I buy every one of these springs t that I run into at swap meets. Bratton`s is the only one that has the correct shape springs, but there is no spring to them. all other venders that I have tried have the wrong shape to them.

duke36 · 08-04-2015, 12:52 PM

I have a Licensed Ford repro spring A 46125, similar to that shown in 160B's right photo.
JW, are you saying these may not fit properly?

Oldbluoval · 08-04-2015, 06:22 PM

My experience is same as John's
Spring will maybe "fit" but not enough torsion and they are softer metal so they lose shape and weaken

jw hash · 08-04-2015, 08:33 PM

rip, if you find some that are licensed and correct, let me know. the only ones that I have found that are 100 % correct shape are from Bratton`s and there is NO spring to them. all other venders that I have bought from, have the wrong shape spring . keep in mind that other Fords used a similar spring, but they are not correct.

08-02-2015, 07:59 PM	#1
duke36 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 1,414	'31 Slant window door handle spring replacement I've reviewed the informative posts about replacing/ repairing S/W town sedan door latch mechanisms. The little S shaped spring that keeps ( I believe) 3 of the 4 door handles in the locking position is in need of replacement in possibly 2 of my doors. Can these be replaced without removing the window glass and regulators? The windows, door latches at the jambs and the other related parts work great. I haven't removed the interior panel as of yet, hence the question. The driver's door handle won't stay in the up, locked position and I don't want to disrupt anything else in the process. The front passenger door if I recall from the posts doesn't require a spring?

08-02-2015, 08:09 PM	#2
burner31 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Shawnee, Ok Posts: 3,471	Re: '31 Slant window door handle spring replacement I also have a '31 slant, but I'm to new with model A's to give you a fer sure answer to this question. I plan on re-doing all my doors this winter, window channels, latches, bumpers, seals, basicly everything with the doors. Please take some pics and post us on your progress, it will help me out and countless others, Thanks __________________ Keith Shawnee OK '31 SW 160-B

08-02-2015, 09:12 PM	#3
duke36 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 1,414	Re: '31 Slant window door handle spring replacement Congrat's on your new purchase; these are one of my favorite A's due to their solid construction, though some of the parts are not as easy to find as other models. Salvage as many orig. parts as possible and try to "restore" those if you can for fit and finish for your particular car. Many of the parts vendors do a great job with what they supply but sometimes a little trimming or tweaking is required here and there as noted in other's posts, especially when it comes to slant window doors.

08-02-2015, 10:49 PM	#4
Bill Cilker Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Milpitas, CA Posts: 398	Re: '31 Slant window door handle spring replacement Within the last two years, Chuck Christensen wrote an article in the "Restorer" on this subject. __________________ Bill Cilker, Jr Unrestored 190A Victoria 45B, 160B & 189A Victoria Association President

08-03-2015, 05:47 AM	#5
Kevin in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South East NJ Posts: 3,398	Re: '31 Slant window door handle spring replacement The door handles sag because of wear. You might want to see what I did: Slant door latches The dovetails are functional and have to work a certain way. A&L sell the proper parts and springs. Some of the repro springs are too stiff. The sliders MUST be able to slide with moderate finger pressure. If not then the door will not shut properly and eventually tear up the door dovetail. The rubbers for the slant doors are not right. They are too big in every direction. If anyone has good solution I am all ears on what works.

08-03-2015, 07:44 AM	#6
Ford1931 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Kenosha, WI Posts: 210	Re: '31 Slant window door handle spring replacement Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) When I did my slant window, I found that several 32 Ford rubber parts matched the original slant window rubber. As I recall the top trim insert, the bottom of the doors, and the door bumpers and some others. Take your old parts and compare them with the V8 vendors.

08-03-2015, 12:55 PM	#7
MrBruce Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 310	Re: '31 Slant window door handle spring replacement I've rebuilt most of mine and made new stickers? Don't know if that is a correct name for them. I was told early on that you could swap the door mechanism from drivers door to passengers rear. Well looks like you can except the passenger front door can't be switched because of the locking mechanism. So, I have to switch it back as the door locked just from shutting it and wouldn't open with the key. I broke the windshield trying to get in. Someone on the Barn has pictures of the mechanism and highlighted the tabs where the right front door was different because of the lock. Hope this helps. MrBruce

08-03-2015, 01:48 PM	#8
160B Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Port Orchard, WA Posts: 1,498	Re: '31 Slant window door handle spring replacement Here is a photo of the mechanism, one missing a spring and one with a spring. I removed mine when I replaced the door glass with safety glass about 12 years ago. I also replaced several springs. As I recall it would be very difficult to replace the spring without removing the mechanism form the door. __________________ 1931 160B & 1931 68B If you don't have time to do it right the 1st time, how do you have time to do it the 2nd time?

08-03-2015, 08:21 PM	#9
duke36 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 1,414	Re: '31 Slant window door handle spring replacement 160b may have answered my initial question though thanks for the other inputs. Fortunately I'm in good shape with the dovetails, rubbers,latches etc. My vague recollection from many years back is that the handle/lever mechanism can be unbolted and pivoted for access but can't remember if the glass was removed at the time or we stuffed cardboard there to protect it just to replace that nasty little spring.

08-04-2015, 10:15 AM	#10
jw hash Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Auburn Washington Posts: 2,552	Re: '31 Slant window door handle spring replacement NO one makes a good replacement spring. I have replaced over a 100 of them, and the last batch of springs I bought, there was NO spring to them. I buy every one of these springs t that I run into at swap meets. Bratton`s is the only one that has the correct shape springs, but there is no spring to them. all other venders that I have tried have the wrong shape to them.

08-04-2015, 12:52 PM	#11
duke36 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 1,414	Re: '31 Slant window door handle spring replacement I have a Licensed Ford repro spring A 46125, similar to that shown in 160B's right photo. JW, are you saying these may not fit properly?

08-04-2015, 06:22 PM	#12
Oldbluoval Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Signal Mtn, TN (SE TN) Posts: 2,371	Re: '31 Slant window door handle spring replacement My experience is same as John's Spring will maybe "fit" but not enough torsion and they are softer metal so they lose shape and weaken

08-04-2015, 08:33 PM	#13
jw hash Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Auburn Washington Posts: 2,552	Re: '31 Slant window door handle spring replacement rip, if you find some that are licensed and correct, let me know. the only ones that I have found that are 100 % correct shape are from Bratton`s and there is NO spring to them. all other venders that I have bought from, have the wrong shape spring . keep in mind that other Fords used a similar spring, but they are not correct.