While the old beater is down for the new interior I noticed the female dovetail housing on the drivers door is missing the cast dovetails and I knew I had a stainless female dovetail latch in my parts stash but I really don't want to use the reproduction stainless piece and would rather keep the original black housing. The RED X's indicate what is missing. Have any of you guys took one of these apart, I see there are kits with the replacement pieces but if I can use what I have that would save a few coins and I already have the pieces. HRP
On my '40 Ford which has the housing built into the body, I replaced the dovetails a couple decades ago. IIRC, you push a flat screwdriver blade into the end of the dovetail at the outside point. There is a slight notch in the pointed end of the dovetail. Push it into the middle of the car and try to flip the dovetail to the center of the opening. A spring hidden behind the dovetail will push it outward. Granted, this is how it's done on a '40, so no guarantees on a '32.
Stick a flat blade between them and push down on the lower one and it will release the spring pressure on the upper and it should come out. The bottom one will lift out. D
When I did my '32 sedan I bought repro d0ve tails--they fit like crap. I took the guts out and installed them in the original housings and it worked great.
Fortunately I won't have to use the stainless street rod style FDT and can rob the pieces I need from this aftermarket female dovetail and repair the original. HRP
Danny, Check out the discussions on the Model A Ford section of the Ford Barn, I think these dovetails are a lot like the '31 Slant window sedans. They mention the springs being very important and only the ones from A&L work properly. Bob
A&L manufactures QUALITY parts, they in turn supply the parts houses, but you don't know for sure if the parts houses are selling you A&L parts or not. Bob
A & L has been in business for more than 50 years. Al Lepore started the business, and since his passing a few years ago his son now runs the business. Allen, the son, lives in New Jersey, and is only at the shop 3 days a week. If you want true quality parts at a fair price, A & L has them. A & L parts are made in the USA, no offshore parts of dubious quality.
I followed the advice of using a screw driver and was surprised just how easy the dove tails popped out, It didn't take long to fit them in their new home. HRP