[fbrown]

I'm planning to add power door locks to my 68. From what I can tell power door locks were not offered in 68 and were very rare in 69. I'm attempting to place the switch where the factory might have placed it on a 68 based on the 69 switch location. Unfortunately there is very little information on power door locks in the Service or Body Manual. I did find one photo in HMM of a 69 GTO with what appears to be a power door lock switch. If anyone could confirm that this is the correct location I would greatly appreciate it.

Availability of Pontiac/GM power door lock components? While I would use Pontiac/GM/restoration parts instead of an aftermarket kit, I have had little luck in finding very much (excluding used parts). Has anyone had any luck finding any of the components of the power door lock system? The only part I have been able to find is the switch.



For those of you interested in the resoration on my car it can be found here http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=584076

[robz]

Here are a few pics of '69s for reference:
http://ultimategto.com/cgi-bin/showc...69/69c_00087_2

http://ultimategto.com/cgi-bin/showc...aa06/69jk060_3

Close to where your pic shows but not quite...Unfortunately, not sure any of these are originals so no way to confirm...if you have the '69 brochure, pretty sure I saw one in there...

[Mark Simiele]

In 69 they offered vacuum power locks for the first time on a GTO. They were offered on the big cars since 67 so it was a similar system but also cumbersome compared to the true power (electric) locks which came out in 70 on the GTO which were much better and way more reliable thus 69 being the only year the vacuum was offered on a GTO. They run off engine vacuum and have the same vacuum canister as the hidden headlight cars and that cansister is mounted below the master cylinder in the wheel wheel area opposite of where the hidden headlight canister goes.

The photo you are using for reference is correct indeed as thats my old car and my friend owns it now. I used the same for reference when I took my measurements for the planned install of the locks some years back which I have but never have gotten around to it as its quite a job.

From 20 plus years of researching and adding options to my 69 GTO I can tell you that factory service related material and pictures are basically non existant which is strange and, you will find hardly anyone that is well versed on the install or the repair of the vacuum locks. Most folks arent even aware that the option was available for 69 and many think they are electric. Finding parts for them is also a major challenge and they just arent out there anymore. Switches are the easiest to find used but thats about it. Some of the big car stuff is interchangeable such as the switches and actuators but nothing is being reproduced. The several feet of vacuum lines, actuator boots and seals are prone to dry rot and these are critical items needed to make the system function correctly. GM specs required that the system cycle twice with engine power off and if there is a leak in any of the seals or lines than it wont work right.

Since you are adding an option that wasnt available in 68 I am assuming you are not restoring your car to original stock/concours showing condition so, you could look into adding the 70 to 72 electric locks which are pretty easy to find since they were used in all the 70 to 72 A bodies, especially the Buicks and Oldsmobiles. They are also fairly easy to service and rebuild too. The 70 switches are the same as 69 but you cant use your vacuum switches. They turn up here often for sale and there was a guy in Hemmings selling complete set ups all ready to go for a while.

Or, if you want to go the vacuum route you will need to find a complete 69 Grand Prix parts car that has an intact vacuum lock set up in it already as that is the identical system for a 69 GTO. Thats where I got my set up from some years ago.

Hope all this helps and good luck!

[robz]

Mark, I thought you had them on yours but I couldn;t find any pics with them on...I just saw your posting above...:-)

I'd definitely go the electric route, if you never had them originally...much more useful and easier to install..

[Mark Simiele]

Its the last option I need to to add Rob and the thought of removing the dash and inner fender well area is scary and also $$$. It would have been sooo much easier when the car was apart but found the set up about a year after the car was back together. The good thing is I a friend who can help me so one day.

[robz]

Yup...that's the reason I'd prefer going the electric route instead...:-)

[gto4evr]

I've got a spare set of electric locks complete with the boots though 68 boots looked different than the 70-72. You can email me at [email protected] and I can dig it out for pics. I think I've got a pair of the 70 style switches for it too so it would look correct for 68 on the asthetics. One thing to note is that the 70-72 doors had dimples in them for drilling the holes and correctly locating the solenoids. The 68/69 doors won't have the dimples so it'll be a bit more nerve racking installing these into a 68!