1951ChevySpecial 2 Dr. Frame off restoration, beautiful. 3 years later, passenger door giving me problems shutting properly. Need to close it with more force than normal. I tried to adjust the "striker plate", if that is the correct term. Unsuccessful. I just don't have the touch. Took it back to the original restorer and he adjusted the striker plate and it seemed to work just fine. A couple weeks later-disaster. The door would not open at all, from inside or outside. Took it back to the restorer, who took off the door panel and worked for a long time with multiple tools, and eventually got it open. But in the process, he ruined the spring on the activation apparatus that the lock knob is connected to.
My plan is to get a replacement for that mechanism, whatever it is called? My other question is, How many years had the same mechanism? I guessed that 1949 to 1952 were probably the same? And I think, obviously, that the driver and passenger mechanisms are mirror images of each other, but would a 4 Dr rear passenger mechanism be the same, provided that I could find one?
The other option might be to just change the spring? If I could find one?
Thanks in advance for all the help a few years ago that helped me keep it completely original during the restoration.
Bill