Bear Claw latches on First gen?

[Steve Firebird]

I have shaved door handles on my 68 firebird and don’t like the standard door popper kit I have that and am trying to install. I found a power bear claw set up that looks much better and simple. I can’t do a bunch of fabricating because the car is all painted. It all most looks like they might go in with minimum work. Has any on used them on a first gen? Here is a link http://a1electric.com/Merchant2/merc...ode=94000-REM4
I don’t really want to spend the money to buy the kit if I need to cut and weld to make it work.

[Perry Mitchell]

For some reason that link did not work for me. I used bear claw latches on my '67 Camaro and they work great, however, they have their own bolt pattern and usually come with new sheet metal that gives you this bolt pattern and latch opening which has to be welded into place. Also, the bear claw latches are not as deep and require the latch stud on the door frame to be relocated.

[Steve Firebird]

Originally Posted by Perry Mitchell

For some reason that link did not work for me. I used bear claw latches on my '67 Camaro and they work great, however, they have their own bolt pattern and usually come with new sheet metal that gives you this bolt pattern and latch opening which has to be welded into place. Also, the bear claw latches are not as deep and require the latch stud on the door frame to be relocated.

Thanks perry I replaced the link. Hoping it will work now. Well I don't think I will want to weld on the car since the paint it all done. I was wondering if you think I could bolt the new sheet metal in inplace of welding it?

[Perry Mitchell]

Yeh, I guess you could do that but it would be ugly. And you still would have to remove the stock striker bolt and replace/relocate it closer to the center of the car and fill the old bolt hole. I am not sure what you're trying to gain by replacing your stock latches. Go to www.watsons-streetworks.com and click on helpful tips on the right side of the page. It will give you advice on using your original latches.

[Steve Firebird]

Originally Posted by Perry Mitchell

Yeh, I guess you could do that but it would be ugly. And you still would have to remove the stock striker bolt and replace/relocate it closer to the center of the car and fill the old bolt hole. I am not sure what you're trying to gain by replacing your stock latches. Go to www.watsons-streetworks.com and click on helpful tips on the right side of the page. It will give you advice on using your original latches.

It looks like I will just stick with what I have. I like the bear claw set up. I wish I would have seen it before I got the painted the car. The first body guy I had told me he installed the solenoids and tested them and it all work great. There is no way it ever worked the way he set it up. I going to change the way it is pulling on the mechanism like a few guys here are doing and it should work fine. Thanks for the help I guess I was looking of a quick easy fix I could just bolt in and it ain’t happening. I should have known better. Steve