70 Challenger Door Latch Lock

[nakabrd]

I recently purchased a '70 Challenger. For some reason the key will won't lock the door nor will the interior lock lever. While watching the latch inside the door, when I push the lock lever down, it pushes a piece into another latch piece not allowing the lock lever to move. I can't get the piece that gets hit to move out of the way to allow the lock lever to have full motion and activate the lock. When I try the key, it does the same thing. Can anyone tell me what is going on? Any help or advice will be appreciated. Thanks

 

[moparleo]

Take the door panel off of the other door and compare what you see on the inside. You could have a bent or disconnected lever.

 

[nakabrd]

Thanks for the reply Leo. Both sides are the same. No bent or disconnected rods. I don't know what I'm missing?????

 

[Avalanche]

Is the door closed when you try to lock it? Or do you try to lock the door and then close it?

 

[nakabrd]

Thanks for the reply Avalanche. I've tried with the door open and closed. Neither the key nor the lever will move the lock. It seems to be hitting something as the rod tries to operate the lock.

 

[moparleo]

What is the history with this problem. Did you just get the car ? Or just did some work in the door area ? Or just out of the blue, it doesn't work now but it did last week ?

 

[nakabrd]

I recently bought the car. Had it painted and they removed the door handles. I reinstalled the door handle rods and handles. The door handle works fine. I don't know if the locks had a problem before the handles were removed. It sounds like maybe I hooked up a rod incorrectly but everything seemed to fit back together right. Thanks...

 

[moparleo]

Maybe this will help

 

[Avalanche]

The locking system is pretty complex. If you hooked a lever up to the wrong place it could cause the lock not to open.
I have a spare locking mechanism and will take a look at it this weekend.

 

[nakabrd]

Thanks Leo and Avalanche. I won't be able to check your suggestions till Monday.

 

[nakabrd]

Door Latch

The rods are connected properly. I attached a picture of the latch. When locking, the piece on the lower right moves upward but hits the arm right above it preventing it from moving and activating the lock. Does anything look wrong here? Also, I removed the rod that attaches to that lower right piece before taking this picture.