Many classic car restoration projects focus on big tasks such as rebuilding the engine, refreshing the suspension and brakes, and preparing the body for paint. But smaller details, especially those the driver interacts with every time the vehicle leaves the garage, can't be overlooked. Door closure definitely falls into this category, since you can't enter or exit a vehicle without opening and shutting the door (unless you use the Dukes of Hazzard method). Unfortunately, many A-Body Dodge and Plymouth vehicles have metal door jamb striker posts that break loose over time, leading to doors that rattle and don't latch securely. In a recent article, Mopar Connection magazine showed how to fix this common issue.
Lead photo courtesy of Mecum Auctions
DIY Door Jamb Repair Guide
Above, you can see the condition of the door jamb on Mopar Connection's 1967 Dodge Dart project car. The steel surrounding the post is only 0.040" thick, and after decades of use, eventually forms stress cracks and breaks off from the metal surrounding it.
Classic Industries offers door jamb repair plates for the driver's side/LH and passenger side/RH of 1967-76 Mopar A-Body vehicles. These include the Dart, Valiant, Barracuda, Duster, Scamp, Dart Sport, and Demon. Each plate includes a paper template for easy installation.
The Mopar Connection team began by removing the post and placing the template on top of where it used to reside. Each hole was carefully checked and marked on the metal beneath.
A 1/4" bit was used to drill through all the indicated holes on the door jamb.
After marking the cut lines with a straight edge and masking off the surrounding area to protect the paint, a grinder with cutoff wheel was used to remove the damaged sheetmetal.
While supporting the repair plate from the back side of the door jamb, the four outer holes were carefully marked for proper alignment. A drill press was used to drill through each of these holes on the plate.
After checking the positioning of the striker post, the door jamb nut was transferred over to the repair plate and its cage was welded in place. Then the plate was attached to the door jamb using four sheet metal screws.
A welder was used to permanently attach the repair plate to the body, first welding the square cutout and then filling in the holes where the sheet metal screws had been. Body filler was applied and then sanded down flat.
Finally, primer was applied to protect the metal and the post was reinstalled. The Mopar Connection team will give this section a final coat of paint once other body repairs have been completed.
For a much more detailed explanation of this process with more photos, read the full article on MoparConnectionMagazine.com.
Looking for More Mopar Classic Car Parts?
If you're restoring a classic Dodge or Plymouth vehicle, Classic Industries is here to help you find all the parts and accessories you need to get the job done. Browse our selection of Mopar parts online or click the button below for a free full-color Mopar restoration parts catalog.
