Door Latch Issues on my '84 Project

Hello all,

I am still working on restoring my '84 TC and have run into a rather large issue with the drivers door. The upper latch arm was pushed back and crushed up into the mechanism when I got the car and I had figured it an easy replacement at the time. Now I cannot seem to find a company that has any repro door latches, does anyone know where I could pickup a replacement? If someone has a spare lying around for a reasonable price I'd be happy to pick it up.

Edit: one of my local salvage yards has an 87 Thunderbird in stock, does anyone know if the door latches are the same? I know the doors themselves are different but can't seem to find anything on the latches themselves.

I don't see how it would be different from an 87, or even any other Ford of the 80's. Latches are not going to be re-produced and would be a junkyard item for sure. Maybe take your old one with you and compare at the junkyard.

I don't see how it would be different from an 87, or even any other Ford of the 80's. Latches are not going to be re-produced and would be a junkyard item for sure. Maybe take your old one with you and compare at the junkyard.

++++++^^

FWIW (for what it’s worth), I agree with Kuch. Seems unlikely Ford made different door latches. HAVING SAID THAT, I could see sedans having different latches than coupes, as the door weight would be greater for a car with only 2 doors.

This unfortunately falls into the “I wish I had one of those”—things that were all over the place 30 years ago (even 25), and are now very hard to find. Other such things: headlamp/parking/turn signal housings; various knobs and switches; the clips that snap on the ends of the door pull cords (although there was someone here who was going to make some of those with a 3D printer; whatever happened with that? I still want 4); taillight housings, etc.

Then, you were practically guaranteed to find several cars with these things in the salvage yard (or on eBay). The only choice was—which one was in better condition?

If I had a way to go back in time I’d grab up all of that kind of stuff I could and bring it back. Not necessarily for profit, but just to…HAVE it.

I wonder if the TC / or 3.8 / 5.0 Tbirds use the same latch as the 80s FOX Mustangs do? If so, the latches may be available from the big Mustang suppliers?