My Willys 3A and 3B Community

3A, 3B, DJ Technical Knowledge Base => "Original"-- Technical Questions, Answers, Observations => Topic started by: Quebec Jeep on February 18, 2013, 11:37:11 AM

Title: Latch for windshield vent door
Post by: Quebec Jeep on February 18, 2013, 11:37:11 AM
I'm missing the latch for the windshield vent door.

Does everybody are using a 1/4 inch welded rod or does a spare part exist for it somewhere?
Title: Re: Latch for windshield vent door
Post by: garage gnome on February 18, 2013, 12:06:51 PM
Walcks sells a rebuild kit for them.

http://walcks4wd.com/window-vent-latch-assembly-only.html
Title: Re: Latch for windshield vent door
Post by: Quebec Jeep on February 18, 2013, 05:51:33 PM
On the picture, i see the handle which i have. What im looking for is the rod that was welded to the windshield. Is it included?
Title: Re: Latch for windshield vent door
Post by: garage gnome on February 18, 2013, 09:01:42 PM
Oh ok, no, I don't think that comes with it.
Title: Re: Latch for windshield vent door
Post by: calvinhunt on February 19, 2013, 12:27:17 AM
I believe the 1/4 inch welding rod would work just fine. I don't know of that part being available.  
Title: Re: Latch for windshield vent door
Post by: F Bill on February 19, 2013, 08:54:05 AM
From the Walcks description:

http://walcks4wd.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/0b1c152f68462788b4bdd76719267de2/d/c/dcp_8169.jpgFrom the Walcks description:

"This is the windshield vent latch only that fits 1949-53 CJ3A models. The latch has the bracket that welds to the cover and the bracket is spring loaded like the original."

The picture shows a latch, spring, and attaching bolt only.

 
Does anyybody have a good picture of this rod discussed above? If you can actually download it to the site we will be able to keep it for as long as the site is functional, as it seems the photo saving sites on the net keep disappearing. �All mine just have a latch,

I looked for a good illustration in Bob's book but all the factory photos show the door just opening on its own and no latch visible.
Title: Re: Latch for windshield vent door
Post by: Quebec Jeep on February 19, 2013, 10:27:07 AM
Here is picture I took on the internet of the handle and latch in question. Here we can see that the latch (1/4 rod) got welded/fixed.

(http://pages.videotron.com/lavoip/index_files/IMAG0180.jpg)

(http://pages.videotron.com/lavoip/index_files/IMAG0181.jpg)

I found some dimensions of it so I should be able to reproduce it.

I should give a call to Carl and ask him directly.
Title: Re: Latch for windshield vent door
Post by: maximushuntermus on March 20, 2013, 09:31:59 PM
Any Chance you could post those dimensions? I too am in need of fabricating one of those rod brackets, I have the latch.
Title: Re: Latch for windshield vent door
Post by: ZekeD on March 20, 2013, 11:43:04 PM
I think that my latch is the orig.   it has a roll spring and the ends are forged flat
see pics.  I didnt take dimentions cause it was -1C in the shed....


Zeke
Title: Re: Latch for windshield vent door
Post by: Quebec Jeep on March 21, 2013, 08:35:54 AM
Here is someone answers I got before.

Ok, here we go. The best I can describe and I used the micrometer to try to be accurate. The rod is 0.25" diameter. The total length is 2.8". From the opening in the windshield it hangs down 1.9". From the opening in the windshield it protrudes upward .9" to the cutoff tips. There is about 1/8' to 1/4" from the top of the opening in the windshield to where the little metal flat starts that the loop is welded to. The loop is welded to the little thin metal flat only and not the windshield. The width at the top of the loop at the cutoff ends measures 1.6" outside. The interior clear width at the top ends is about 1.125". The exterior width in the middle where the bend is measures 1.375". The interior clear distance at the middle bend is about .8". The middle bend is about 3/8" to 1/2" further away from the windshield where the ends weld to the windshield. Then the bottom of the loop bends back toward the windshield about 1/4". The end result is that the middle of loop bows out slightly away from the windshield. The distance from the outside bottom of the V measuring upward to the middle bend is about 1.4" with another .5" from the bend to the top of the windshield opening. Hope that helps.

(http://pages.videotron.com/lavoip/index_files/Forum/VentLactchTape.jpg)
Title: Re: Latch for windshield vent door
Post by: ZekeD on March 21, 2013, 11:26:03 AM
Whoa... Really good work!    Thanks but did you need a 25 foot tape to get all of that? ::)

Z.
Title: Re: Latch for windshield vent door
Post by: maximushuntermus on March 21, 2013, 03:25:57 PM
Awesome thanks very much...I appreciate the detail thats incredible...