I'm thinking of replacing the locks on my 71 Dart --trunk, ignition, door. I definitely need to replace the trunk lock since the owner did not have a key to it when I bought the car. My door and ignition locks are both a bit shakey. The drivers side door is particularly hard to open. My question: Is this hard to do? I figure I can manage the trunk and maybe the door but might be in over my head on the ignition. Got tips?

None of them are that difficult to replace, but the most common problem with locks and latches is lubrication. The old lubricants become dry and gummy and make things stick. Solvent cleaning and fresh lube can make them last years longer.

Are you talking about "locks" or is it "latches" giving you problems? The door and trunk "locks" are not difficult to change. In fact, the biggest problem you may encounter is breaking some of the plastic retaining clips that hold the linkage rods in place. That's not even a really big deal, since these can be found in the HELP! section of most auto parts stores.

The ignition switch is a little trickier, and might take some special tools (namely snap ring pliers or steering wheel puller) to dismantle the column down to the level where you access the switch. Still not a big deal, if you are half-way mechanically inclined, have the right tools, and get a print of the pertinent pages from a Factory Service Manual (which Dan is sure to remind you that you need ). I definitely agree, they do come in handy.

Jerry

_________________
There's a difference between ignorance and stupidity.
Ignorance is not knowing any better.
Stupidity is knowing, yet doing it anyway.

The trunk lock is trivial to change; the door locks are pretty easy once you get the interior panels off, and the ignition only a little harder.

The doors and trunk are just held in with a little clip that slides off to the side.

Removing a '71 ignition lock the proper way requires disassembling the upper column until you see a ~1/8" hole - push a rod down through the hole with the ign in the RUN position and the lock will just slide out.

The only special tools are a steering wheel puller and a locking plate compressor. The locking plate is a black metal disk with slots in it; when the ignition is locked a dowel pops up and sticks through a slot to keep the steering from turning.

The plate is held up agains a wire C-clip on the shaft by a spring; the tool holds it down against the spring so you can work the clip off - that's the hardest part of the job, as that clip is hard to grab.

A trick I've used for temporary locks is to file the spring loaded pin that sticks out of the side of the lock into a conical shape - then a good pull will let you yank the temporary lock out and replace it with the permanent lock w/o taking anything apart.