Hi everyone, I'm a newby here as of yesterday, and also new to the Corvette world. Just got it last week. 1980 L48. The car has some issues that need to be sorted out before I can get it inspected. I tried for a good hour last night trying to get the passenger door open with no luck. I pushed and pulled, tried prying the catch that goes around the striker, not moving. I'm thinking of taking my plasma to the striker to get it open. I like the car but everytime I look at something I can see that someone in it's past has mickey ducked it back together. I think with all the questions I have on this project I'll be a regular on here. Thanks in advance, Ric.

MICKEY DUCKED ?on here we say ,BUBBA has been here,I don't think there is one car here that BUBBA hasn't had his hands on ,somewhere.Try taking the inner door panel off and getting at the latch that way,you should be able too,Hope you've got small hands,I got the chills when you said PLASMA CUTTER.Let us know how you made out,You WILL find more problems ,we'll get ya through them one at a time,Ron ,Oh and welcome to C3VR,congrats on buying your new C3Ron 782007-07-16 10:35:15

Hi Ron

Metal Man,  This seems to be a common problem as there have been a number of posts regarding the same thing.  Can you feel the door handle actually doing anything when you pull it or does it feel as if the door is locked?  I had the same thing happen with mine.  I ended up unscrewing the lock button on the inside to expose the threaded rod that the chrome button screws onto.  I used a pair of vice grips to grab the rod and PULL outward as if unlocking the door while pulling the inside handle.  Not sure what it did but it allowed the handle to engage and open the door.  This may not work in  your case but it did on mine.  It was a long time before the wife would ride with me again, she didnt enjoy climbing over the console to get out

I had the same problem with mine not to long ago basically it just would not unlock... What I did was i had some one on the inside push on the lever to unlock and then i pushed on in on the dorr with a decent amount of force and then while puching i pulled it open itkinda sounds weird but worked for me... After words I pulled apart the locking mechanism soaked it in some parts cleaner let it dry shot it with a litte pb blaster and it works wonderful now..

Thanks for all the tips, I'll get a little rough with it and see if I can free it up. Right now I'm changing the power steering pump and return hose. I also pulled the rad this morning, ordered a new one and a fan clutch. I love the lines of this car, I told my daughter when we sort it all out I want to take it for a good run. I'm going to put a set of headers on it, any ideas which brands are easy to install? I guess I can get rid of the pollution stuff as well. That stock air cleaner has to go to. Once I get it breathing a little better any idea what kind of HP it will produce? Will it keep up with my Duramax. I thinking this could be fun.

First of all...Mickey were a MOUSE...Donald were da duck...
Secondly...good luck with a plasma cutter on plastic!
Third...BUBBA RULZ!!!

I think you'll fit right in here with all the rest of us NUTZ!

Do a "search", and you'll find several threads on this subject recently...seems to be a common ailment as of late. Once you get it open and fixed, make sure the little gal knows not to slam the doors closed...that's probably what caused the problem to begin with from the PO.

Don't know if it's the same issue, but here's a thread about our door troubles..... 

http://www.c3vr.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=65982&KW=lock