Date:         Thu, 4 Jun 2020 09:07:44 -0700
Reply-To:     John Goubeaux <jlgoubeaux59@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Goubeaux <jlgoubeaux59@GMAIL.COM>
Organization: UCSB
Subject:      Sliding Door Rear latch nut repair
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed

Folks,  I'm faced with a loose latch bolt problem, ie the sliding side
door rear latching assembly !

I've put off tackling this for years now, and not only is the latch
loose ( and cannot be tightened ) BUT it appears that BOTH tack welded
bolts are spinning inside the door too !

I've unbolted the door hinge and can pull the door out, and away from
the car and rested it on a bucket, so as to get a look in where the door
latch rod enters the cavity at the back of the door, where the latch
bolts are. I can see the lower bolt spinning, and like one previous
poster indicates, can likely get a wrench on it. BUT I'm not sure about
the top one though. I'd also like to pull the whole latch off and
rebuild it with the GW rebuild kit I now have. I'm sure the mechanism is
worn from being loose all these years.

I'm wondering at this point if taking the whole door off and getting it
horizontal on a bench, and attempting to enlarge the hole where the rod
goes through is my best option? OR perhaps, with the door off, IF I can
get the nuts to not turn I can get bolts off and the nuts will fall off
allowing me to set two rivet nuts in their place ?

What a pain in the ass this is !!!   Has anyone had any luck with this
and or have suggestions ?

Any help IS appreciated !

Thanks  -john