The International Cessna 170 Association

Could someone please post or send a picture of their door frame at the point where the door latches closed? Basically the photo below but not messed up!

Someone had riveted a steel plate over the holes on one side into which the door did latch nicely. However, there is underlying damage and also cracking extending around the corner. Given this is the "B-post" of the crash box, I'm allergic to cracks! Any help appreciated. I'm planning to cut out and patch where all the holes are, about 8" long, and I'd like to see a picture of how it is supposed to look and what is supposed to be attached to those rivet holes.

Thanks,

Gareth.

Gareth, you might be a little relieved to know your door post looks like a lot of other 170 door posts. Including the crack. But this info may not make you feel much better.

The bottom sort of rectangle hole with the two larger round holes are the only original holes. The strike plate is held to the post with screws through the two small holes. The slot with notch at the top was cut for added lock which early 170s did not have from the factory. All the rest of the holes, couldn't say what they are for.

Bruce Fenstermacher wrote:All the rest of the holes, couldn't say what they are for.

Thanks Bruce.

There are several places where she looks like someone took a 12-bore to her!

This pic shows before the cleanup. I had already drilled a stop hole here.

For what it’s worth here’s our 48. If the lock isn’t original it’s done very nicely.

Shawn and Dave,

Thank you both ... those are really helpful!

Gareth.

Looks like they did away with the knife-type latch in 1952:If you wanted to patch over the slot in the door and do away with the knife-type latch here's a link to the Service Kit referred to above for the left door. The right door used Service Kit SK70A52-3.
Here's a new style right door latch kit for sale.

Shawn looking at the fabric on interior door panel and the ashtray and front seat in the background of your picture it looks to me like you have an exceptionally original plane. I hope you will be preserving original fabrics and paint samples. It'd be great if you could document your plane here like Bruce has done.

Gary,

I may be missing something. I have the knife-type locks in both doors. The service kit appears to be specifically for the left door only. Any idea what's the deal with that?

Gareth.

Gareth, I think you may be mis-reading the SK. Later models deleted the left door knife-lock ...and the SK locks the latch-mechanism instead.

Gareth,
The right door has another Service Kit, SK70A52-3 -- quite similar to the Service Kit for the left door. I can't upload it here because of file size. It's found on Cessnasupport.com where you have to register to access their database.

A lot of stress gets introduced into the Door frame of C 170 air frame over 70 years

It is actually resilient and forgiving.

Technology used in WW2 aircraft leaked over to Cessna.

You own a Cessna 170? Good Stuff. Enjoy