Window Latch Missing on My 71

[heins57]

Windshield Latch Missing on My 71

The driver side window latch is missing on my 71.



The passenger side is pulling out of the dash. I guess the PO really cranked down hard. I thought I would need to make the upper bracket, but found them in a bin of nuts and bolts I got from the PO.



I went out in the garage and made two of these up. You need to twist your head a bit to get the orientation. Obviously I still need to drill the hole through the bracket and get the proper length bolt and spacer. The plan is to either weld them to the dash or weld in a backing plate with nuts to bolt it up. What do you think? Any other ideas or thoughts. And yes I searched .

Thanks.

 

[65swb45]

Thots:

1. WOW! That's cool.

2. If you're gonna build it, why not overbuild it!

3. Are you sure it's gonna fit behind the dash pad?

4. If it fits, are you prepared to make more? There are others out there with this problem!

5. I always thought the factory spot welds were plenty cheesy for what this part is required to do, so I would go with a drilled plate behind the face of the dashboard to secure it with 6mm bolts, like the upper bracket.

Best

Mark A.

 

[heins57]

Windshield Latch Version #2

1. Thanks for the compliment.

2. My wife always says I over build everything, but I say, "Hey it'll never break!" I still over built this one too. LOL

3. Since I don't have a dash pad I really didn't think about the size. I was thinking of buying a lockable dash box and I think they aren't as wide as the stock pads. I thought about it all day at work and came up with this (still almost too hot to hold). Took less than an hour and was way simpler.



4. If this one fits (it should it's the same size as stock) I might be coaxed into making more. After all once you make a few they all become easier to fab.



5. I like the idea of drilled and bolted with a plate behind more than welding. It would afford more adjust-ability and would make replacement, if needed, much easier.

Mark A. I will be visiting you soon. Just bought a stock carb to replace the Rochester that come with my 71 and I work a short drive from your shop.

Thanks,

Bill