VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 1938 Door Latch Repair

I have a 1938 Master Deluxe and the door latch / lock has a broken spring and the latch does not return. I removed it but can't figure out how to replace the spring. Do I have to grind off the rivets to take the latch apart??

Thanks!

I don't remember having to grind any of the rivets off and would think hard about doing anything that is not reversible. You do have to take the lock apart to get the spring in and it is a little tricky to put back together. If you look at the flat part of the latch on the inside of the lock there is a small box and in the box is a lubricating wipe. When you take the lock apart the wipe can fall out. Slip a thin strip of hard plastic between the latch and the box to keep it in place as you take apart the box. It seemed to be treated in a graphite material so it can be messy. There are also brass spring washers that hold tension on the various latch and mechanisms. They can be damaged when you taking the latch apart. If you can take the other latch off it will serve as a reference to help you to put the damaged on back together.

Brian

I replaced the springs in my 38 door latch and had to drill rivets out, replaced springs with provided rivets. Kind of a pain, but you have to do what you have to do. I found latch kit on ebay, but I&I reproductions might have in stock.
http://www.iandireproduction.com/id388.html
Good luck
Michael
38 Master Deluxe Town Sedan