Gonna take cab and doors to my buddy's body shop to get some body work done on the cab and get the door gaps lined up. I don't have any striker plates or locking mechanisms. What would you guy's recommend my buy for door parts?

 

Without knowing what your working on all I can tell you is what I'm looking at putting in my 49 F1 is a Altman Latch

 

Those are on my wish list as well.

They increase the saftey quite much.

do a search on youtube and you can see how could it can turn out.

 

If you are having metal work done on the cab, then now is the time to install the Altman latches. Here is how I did my door jambs so that I did not need to use the hokey adapter plate. Your bodyman should be able to knock these out for you...

 

Thx Charlie, I read your post about your latches. Looks like that's the way to go. Thanks again. Good work too

 

I'd suggest Mid Fifty. Home - Mid Fifty F-100 Parts for stock replacement or bear claw (altman) latches.

 

But is there an order of install? For example, window stuff first, then Altman latches? If I do Altman latches first, will I be able to get the window stuff in?

 

There are a couple of types of Altman latch that will work on your truck...the original design was more universal and was not a direct replacement for the OEM door handle. They have since refined the design and now you can use the Altman latch along with the stock outer handle without any further modification. As for the "window stuff" there is no issue here.

There are two ways to go with the Altman install in the door...one is to use the plate and screw it over the cutout area on the door and the other is to use the plate and weld it into the door. The second is my preference since it makes such a clean job but some prefer the first, especially if the truck is already painted and they don't want to weld on it. If you are going to go the Altman route then decide ahead of time which way you are going to go...if you are going to weld the plate in place then don't waste your $$$ on the stainless plate, get the plain steel version.

 

I understand how you installed the Altman latches, but I'm curious if you have to install window regulator and components first before latches... Or does it matter which ones you do first...

 

No it don't matter which is first but I would do latches first.

 

I bought a NOS 1953/55 left door latch from earlyfordstore.com in San Dimas CA for 75 bucks as a b'day present for a pal that has a 1954 F100. They have more, including the right side.