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Thread: Drilling keyhole in door skin

  1. #11
    Join Date
    Apr 2021
    Location
    SF Bay Area
    Posts
    234

    Unhappy

    I finally got around to drilling out one of the front doors for the new "anti-burst" door latches.

    Since I have documented the previous steps and findings, I'll post some more pictures of the process:
    It seems the forum only has a 20MB total limit on photos, so I am having to crop these together to save my space.
    Click image for larger version. 

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    1) I put some tape on the area to be drilled, hoping to save the paint job a bit.
    2) I found that it was easier to match up the template to the handle hole that I was using for registration if I cut out the hole in the template with a razor blade on some cardboard before trying to line it up.
    3) I decided to try a 7/8" forstner bit, because they make really nice holes for woodworking projects. Looking around on metal fabrication websites, I saw that aluminum is soft enough to use these. And it worked great.
    4) I put the centering barb on the drill bit on the "+" center, and tapped it with a wrench to act as a center punch. I didn't want to really dent it, more like poke a hole in the tape and paint...
    5) Even with the center punch, the drill bit wandered a bit. So- [ProTip] - use a self-centering metal drill bit and drill a 1/8" pilot hole. The centering barb on the forstner bit was about that thick at the bottom. And, with that centering hole drilled, it didn't wander any more.
    6) The hole profile was drilled fast and clean.
    7) Aw crap! I guess I was about 1/16th off. The plastic keyhole trim covers about 1/4" over, so we're good, it will hide any difference. I purposely put the size of the lock cylinder hole as the smaller one from my factory rear door (see previous post, the new plastic trim is larger). So I planned to enlarge to fit. Used a Dremel and metal grinding bit to enlarge and re-center to the area marked in sharpie pen. I went back and updated/edited the previous post's attached template to account for this difference.
    8) Getting the trim piece in is finicky. There are two retention tabs on either side, but they hit the lock cylinder when trying to compress. Maybe put the trim in first, then the lock? But I had taken the door latch off and on about 8 times to adjust the fit and action, so I was not going to take it all off for a plastic trim piece. I used the Dremel to grind down the plastic inside a bit.
    9) I had to pack it up for the day...but I might play around with the fit of that trim piece later. They are cheap, and I might buy another one and shave the key cylinder hole a little bit more for a better fit. But that basically finishes the installation.

    For those not familiar with the difference between Series 2 & 2A standard door latches and "Anti-burst" door latches - I made up a comparison pic:
    Click image for larger version. 

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    Latch Comparison:
    The big differences are that they use a completely different striker, and the door key cylinder is in a different place - which necessitates drilling out your doorskins (or buying doors pre-drilled for said locks).
    The bolt pattern is the same, which is nice.
    Issues, always Issues...
    On the Proline latches I got, the bottom hole closest to the latch mechanism was about 3x as thick as the standard one installed on my Series 3.
    This was a problem using the new stainless steel plate with bolts pre-welded in place.
    There seem to be two kinds of these plates:
    * One of them has a flat profile presented to the outside, with a threaded rod going inward that you attach nuts to.
    * The other has a nut welded on, and you put bolts through.
    The one with no visible hardware on the outside makes sense for using on the bottom, because it's visible through the handle hole - but on my set, the threaded rod is too short to spin a nut on in that thicker hole highlighted in the pictures above. So, I had to use the first kind, with the welded nut on the outside, because it came with longer bolts.
    [Pro Tip] Get both types. They are cheap and good insurance in case your door is slightly wonky.

    Finally:
    Also, to wrap up this project, I guess I should also mention that I had to rebuild the sheet metal under the door latch.
    In case any of you have to do the same, here's a quick break-down of some steps I took, and a photo:
    Click image for larger version. 

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    1) The door skin is aluminum (yeay!) but the frame and loor latch mounting area is steel (booo!)...so it rusted. Also, the previous owners had bad alignment on the latch, so they clearly slammed and pushed it shut enough to where the sheet metal ripped away. I had only 3 holes to bolt to.
    2) So, I ended up using the door latch gasket as a template, outlining it with a sharpie on some 22 gauge steel and drilled and cut with tin snips. Fit to the missing pieces.
    3) I did some test spot welds, then went around adding small tacks until I filled most of the area. It's tricky with this thin of metal as you burn through more often than weld.
    4) Grind it down with the Dremel tool and hand file, then sand-paper to make it flat enough to not affect the fit of the new latch. Kind of ugly for body-work, but it will be hidden behind the door latch!
    5) Primer and some automotive black paint so it won't rust agiain. I actually kind of like the way the black looks from the outside - it blacks out the door handle hole, and matches the black on the headlight panels. I might keep it that way.
    I think I am spending too much time trying to save these doors!
    -Cheers, thanks for reading.

  2. #12
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Posts
    395

    Default

    viad-d, I suppose we've all had some issues with the pro-line. Having worked in production run before it seems some of the items may of been engineered to fit similar applications, in other words, they 'mostly' fit ...... more than the land rover. the rivit holes for instance in the door trim should be different on all Land rovers as that in the 70's would be done by hand. were I a supplier I might leave the holes out so the user could use the old holes. Glad to see you this involved after owning a Rover for ......... 2? weeks!
    yup, a lot of the 'improvements' could be forsaken. by the Mid 70's they'd made about a million Land Rover Series and any bugs were by and large worked out. I haven't looked at anti burst door locks but have had the latch assy. apart, i think simply putting the lock on may be as effective but maybe not.

  3. #13
    Join Date
    Apr 2021
    Location
    SF Bay Area
    Posts
    234

    Default

    I deleted the last post, because I don't think it helps anyone with fitment issues or door key holes. Will just keep this thread about door latches.
    Last edited by vlad_d; 05-26-2021 at 02:40 AM.

  4. #14
    Join Date
    Apr 2021
    Location
    SF Bay Area
    Posts
    234

    Default

    So, this weekend, I got around to doing the last of three doors(Passenger side door). This one also had the 2/2a style latches, and no key cylinder. It had that little knob where you HAVE to unlock from the inside. I wanted to fit the "anti-burst" latch here to complete the set, and also add a key cylinder to make locking and unlocking the Passenger side easier(no reaching over the seat and center console).

    As this was the 3rd door, and probably the 20th time I disassembled everything, it went pretty much as expected- which is to say "lots of fitment issues, but nothing suprising". I had to grind down the strikers again, but not as much. I learned the angle grinder makes fast work of it. I finished it with a hand file to leave smooth surfaces for the locking mechanism. Also, this sounds crazy, but after a while, it was easier to just use the angle grinder right on the striker as it was installed in the car to adjust fit. Close the door, see where it's rubbing, and grind that area down, try again. Saved me 10 mins unbolting each time.

    The keyhole ended up being off on this door, too. I have to say that I think I had 3 different doors on the truck, which may be your case too. I guess there's no telling what rusted out or was replaced over the years by previous owners. So, I would advise don't try to use a template, like I did...because that assumes some uniformity...which is sadly not a given. As I said, this could be either 1) Bent truck, 2) Aftermarket doors over the years, or 3) bad new latch parts. It all just makes the whole thing bespoke, and I would treat each door as an independent problem.

    If I had to do it again, I'd drill a 1/8" hole as close to center as I could and then stick the drill bit through and measure the offset to make it dead-center on the lock cylinder...and drill again there. If you remove the lock tumbler from the latch assembly, it installs perfectly behind the keyhole and leaves space so you can test fit. You can drill as many 1/8" holes as you need to, to get it centered...because when you come back with the 7/8" forstner bit, it whipes out the missed holes.

    Last thing I'll say is that the Proline latches were good, I'd say those are quality. But the Proline strikers are crap. Since the genuine latches are crazy expensive, I would recommend saving on the latches and spring for genuine strikers to get a good fit. Or just get genuine both strikers and latches.

    So, I now have 1 key that opens all the doors, and I don't have to walk around the car to open the Passenger side door from the inside. The "anti-burst" locks have a satisfying pivot down locking mechanism that feels good. I hated how the 2/2a locks had kind of two locking positions on the striker...you guys know what I'm talking about, that second outer catch? It sort of fake closes? Anyway, it feels secure and a minor quality of life improvement, so I'd reccomend the upgrade. Just expect some hassle.

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