Thanks abe, let me know what you find.
I'm not in a real rush. I'm hoping to be able to get the truck out for regular, legal drives this spring.
I got the driver's side off. I put some ATF/Acetone mix on them last night. Then today I took my old impact screwdriver set and used a large phillips that seemed to lock in place pretty good. The first two I applied heat and they came out well, the third I bypassed the heat and it came out just fine as well.

I think I will leave the passenger side. It seems in pretty good shape.

The shims surprised me a little. Not sure what they are made of, but they had some backing paper/cardboard on them and they were attached. Shoot hang on.....
OK I'm back. Ran out and took some pictures.







Of course the midfifty shims are chrome too....we will see what I can find.

 

I found a box of shims on eBay a few years ago. They had like a sandpaper grit surface to keep the striker plate from slipping. I will also check to see if I have any left.

 

All of my sets were phillips.........interesting.

 

Looks like a great time to go with Altman latch replacements...you will never regret it.

 

That might lead one down the path to the dark side! Careful you must be!

 

Joe, I just saw a L.H. striker plate on eBay for $20.

 

I gave abe grief for putting in a dome light.
At this time $250 vs. $50 means a whole bunch to me. I'm a bit of a cheapskate.
And I like the idea of stock, I'm just odd that way.

 

I bought the Altman's and wished I'd kept the originals because of the way they function, you can't lock the Altman's from the inside like you could with the originals. Locking and unlocking with a key would be a pain I think so I bought the power lock kit which made it a very expensive upgrade. Things get even worse if you live here in Canada with our crippled dollar.

 

You are not a cheapskate Harrier as there is nothing inexpensive about the stock door starwheel latch and striker assembly. You sir are a "Stocker". That requires that you endure a few of the weak spots on an Effie. I love these old trucks and appreciate them. The factory latch system is a big joke. It is a piece of bizarre "engineering". The stamped steel and parts cast from junk alloy metal just wear out quickly, and doors fly open in an accident as acknowledged by the mods Ford attempted in 1956. You can fix it with all new parts and it will return in a few years if you truly drive your truck much.

It is a cross you must bear and it will not end until you sell your truck or die. Other stockers will likely defend the stock latch and I will just smile.

Now I have to figure out what I am going to do with my stock latches this winter.

 

You know, I have always hid behind being cheap and not knowledgeable enough to do anything but stock.
I guess it's time for me to come out. I love using old tools and making old things come back to live.
I feel so much better now.

 

It's really fun to tinker with old stuff. I enjoy it too. This is one of the few things it is hard to repair on these trucks without buying fairly expensive parts. A little penetrating oil and adjustment just won't fix worn pot metal. A few years ago a neighbor of mine sold me a few latches and striker plates which I resold. He ran a 56 dump truck until the 90s. He bought out the local Ford dealers remaining stock because he was afraid he wouldn't be able to repair his doors again as the truck became obsolete. Said he had repaired his drivers door striker plate six times and the star wheels numerous times as well. Last well enough for a hobbyist truck but it is a very weak design for longevity.