[Hot Rod Mike]

Hi everyone,

I have a 33 Ford 3W steel coupe that I'm getting ready to install the gator jaw latch system in. This was a project car & I did not get the original locks or the dovetails.

Do I need the dovetails if I install the gator jaw latches ? What was the original purpose of the dovetails ?

Thanks,
Mike.

im sorry no one responded to this yet but it might be just a little out of most guys league

[35WINDOW]

My understanding is that the Dovetails registered the Doors, as essentially you have a situation in where the Door could come open, say, if the Car became twisted in an accident-it supposedly kkep the Latch in contact with the Striker.

On my '35 (which had Dovetails) I took them out when I installed my BearClaws-the BearClaws obviously double latch, and aren't prone to the "furniture" type of latch that came originally in the Car.

That's just the way I did it-is it correct? I sure hope so!

[Hot Rod Mike]

35Window,

Thanks for the comments. This is exactly what I am thinking. I went back over the last few days looking @ several car rags that i have saved over the years, & I did not find anyone who kept the dovetails in after gator jaw latch install.

Thanks,
Mike.

P.S. BigChevyFTW - thanks for the comments, too. I was beginning to think no one had ever done this before, or most have glass cars & the dovetail design was never installed initially.