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I can't speak directly about putting a lock on the driver side door because, quite frankly, I don't know anybody who has done it, but I'm sure it's been done. I would imagine it's a whale of a job to drill out the door and install the locking mechanism, etc. As for the absence of a lock on the driver's side, I chalk it up to just one of those things we get used to. Or you can try to find a 5-star cab door and go from there. A lot of the parts distributors carry matching ignition/door lock sets. They also have the start button if you need that too.
I just did it on my 54 - installed a drivers side door lock and complete matched key set from mid-fifty - but I've no idea whats available for the earlier model trucks. This is where lumping the 48 - 52 owners with the mid-fifty guys is a little frustrating but don't get me wrong - I love seeing the treads about the 48 - 52 stuff. Some info for 53 - 56. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...solenoids.html
I seem to recall a pretty good how-to thread within the past few months, well-documented with pics. The poster made a template on the right door, then flipped it over to locate the hole properly on the left. You might want to do a Google search.
Right side door always has the lock built into the latch no matter what year, 48-52. The locking left side door latch became an option on Extra Cab (deluxe) equipped trucks starting in 1951. I never bothered to check, but I'm not sure that the earlier and non-Extra Cab left side doors have the built in provisions to accept a locking latch and cylinder as the Extra Cab 51/52 doors.
Someone just asked this on the flathead forum, and one of the responses was that the tube is already welded to the inside of the door -- but this may well be on 51-52 and on. If you look in the door jamb where the setscrew that secures the lock cylinder is supposed to be, you'll be able to tell quickly whether or not it's there.
Glad someone brought this subject because I have locks on my doors, but I don't know how the locking assembly attaches to the door/ latch assembly. There is this small rod that comes out of the lock, but I don't know where I goes or how to get it on. Any help? They're stock original locks. I don't have the key either
The square rod slides right into the latch assembly, and the lock cylinder is retained by a set screw in a tube that is accessible from the door jamb. I highly recommend removing the set screw and using anti-seize on it, and if it's at all buggered in the recessed head (it's an allen head), replace it!! These get rusted in place easily.
Inside of the door (this one's from a passenger side, but driver's side should be the same). Door is from a 51 truck w/Extra Cab options. Not sure if the 48-50 and 51-52 standard doors have this reinforcement. Top hole is for the exterior door handle set screw. Bottom hole is for the lock cylinder set screw. Note the cylindrical tube coming from the reinforcement. That's for the lock cylinder housing. There's another tube that goes out from that towards the hole in the door. That's for the lock cylinder set screw.
Lock cylinder set screw. It's 10-32x3/4" with an allen head in the body of the screw.
Converting a non-locking driver's side door latch into a locking one with parts from the passenger side is not possible because the parts are side specific and have a mechanical actuator to lock the latch mechanism. The parts are mirror image of each other and are not interchangeable.
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