Door latch rods are extremely noisey, Fixes???

As I put out in the General Discussion Forum, I took my van out for a maiden voyage and it had a INCREDIBLE noise in the back. After checking it out, here it was the rods that latch the doors - top and bottom - that, I guess, wallowed out in there. I need to get into them and see what it is exactly but I was wondering if there was some sort of "fix" or kit that we can get? If I have to fab something, no big deal but, a lot of times it just as easy to get the replacement parts (if there are any).
Thanks guys,
Chaz

not the most elegant fix, but i took a ball peen and shmushed the door onto the slide latches a bit..it worked well even without replacing the weatherstripping which i need to do...

Interesting.....

I had the same issue.  First, you should know that the rods rattled from the factory so there was a service bulletin issued with spring steel clips sent to the dealers to insert into the striker plates to hold the rods tight at the top and bottom.  But almost everyone reports they are long gone or their van never got the recall back in the day, and they are missing or rusted and broken off.  Someone was selling reproduction clips over at VCVC forum. Might want to check. Two things I did, make small clips from aluminum or steel and attach them to the striker plates to tighten up the square holes for the rods, I used epoxy to hold some aluminum L shaped shims in place and greased them up. This also tightens the doors which in turn helps reduce the rattle!  Second, wrap the rods inside the doors with something to cushion them  I used plastic wire wrap, scraps of foam rubber, anything that works.  That will stop the rods from rattling when you drive around but still allow them to slide up and down when you open the door handles.

Thanks Vantasia.
I can fab up some stuff but I was hoping there was a "fix".
Thanks a bunch!!
Chaz

On this topic... I had trouble with the foot pulling up and out of the hole when opened the door and I would have to reach down in a put it back in place. I put about a 6 or 8 in piece of heater hose over the rod and forced it slightly over the foot (latchy thing that sticks out) which gives it enough movement but keeps it straight enough to go back in the hole without falling out. Then I taped it with duct tape at the top of the hose. It will also keep the rod from falling out of the door if the top clip breaks.

I was thinking about hose as well. I will look at that.
I was also thinking of some medium density foam with a slice in it for the rod and push/wedge it in around the rod, holding it still.
Thanks!!!!
Chaz

My 66 van (the one in the avatar) had the outside handles shaved..... On the primary (front) side door, I had the upper/lower latches and rods removed so that only the spring loaded primary latch was operational....Basically, I just shut it the same as a front door... It never popped open or failed to stay tightly shut and aligned.... Inside, I fabbed a pull rod setup from the handle to the front of the door so I could reach the release through the passenger door..... I am probably going to do the same to my current van....

Just FYI as part of the tread and noted by Vantasia
Chevy Service Bulletin DR #679

Also if the hinges are warn and the bumper blocks are not tight it could be the whole door bouncing. When I first  put my van on the road the doors rattled so bad it sounded like a Chinese New years Parade.







These blocks are to suport the door when closed to stop them bouncing and killing the hinge pins and latches.

Looks like a Great Idea, M1!

Thanks , M1.
I checked the hinges and they are tight but, the rubbers are hard as Chinese arithmetic. Where can I get these???
Thanks,
Chaz

I bought these from Lucky Chuky who was making them. I think they are also repoped for the corvan. Check the Clarks corvair catalog

Thanks bud. I'll see if I can find them!
I appreciate it!!
chaz

I think I got it!
http://www.corvair.com/user-cgi/catalog.cgi?function=goto&catalog=MAIN§ion=MAIN&page=230

It's tragic if they make these parts for the corvan and not the Chevy/GMC van, there's such a huge market for corvans tho

Yeah, but maybe one of these days these baby's will bring the money a 23 window micro bus does. lolololol

But as for the bumpers, I think the ones at the bottom of the page on the right will work. They don't say how thick they are but there are shims for them.

Update:
Just to see if it will work, I bought a strip of about 2'' square foam for sealing under house air conditioners. I cut it in sections and put one around each "bar" in the doors. It keeps them from rattling when I wiggle the door but I haven't had it on the road yet (I'm finishing up my belly pan.)
These are only temporary as I am afraid they will hold moisture. If they end up being a final fix, I think I would rather have a foam type material I have seen in packaging. NOT Styrofoam but almost like a cross between foam rubber and Styrofoam. It's kind of "rough" and still springs back like foam rubber. Sorry, I just don't know the name.
I also am trying Vantasia's idea with the aluminum (I used zinc as I had it in the right thickness) on the tops of the two rear doors. I could not get foam in there along side of the windows.
Thanks for all the ideas and help guys.
Chaz

what worked for me was to take bubble wrap, the small bubble type
and wrap around the rod 2 or 3 times tie it in place with zip tie then
push the wrap up into the cavity where the rod goes into the door, this
will not keep moisture and will stop the rattling of the rods and if you
push the wrapping up far enough no one can see it or hear it, I have used
this trick to two early vans with awesome results.