Bear claws with original handles
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 364
Likes: 1
From: Texas Panhandle
Bear claws with original handles
I just put bear claws with the original handles in my F1 this weekend. The way I did it took a bit of thinking and fabrication but only cost me about $15 after the cost of the latches.
I cut down the original latch and switched them from side to side. This takes the guess work out of lining the handle up and makes connecting to the bear claw much easier. The lock has to be lined up seperately but it 's not too hard to do. Here's the pieces I used to add the lever to activate the latch and how they were assembled.
The latch plate fits right behind the window channel. The lock for the passenger side was welded to the top of the bear claw and the internal c shaped part was cut down and welded to the lock piece on the bear claw.
I had an old passenger door that I cut up to pre-fit everything, the latch point for the bear claw ended up just below the dovetail.
I used a cable to attach to the inside door handle. The passenger lock can only be operated with the key and the drivers will have to have an inside lever to operate it but that's only a minor inconvenience for having smooth operating latches. Still have a tiny bit of adjusting to do and need to get the lock cylinder back in, but they work like a charm so far.
I cut down the original latch and switched them from side to side. This takes the guess work out of lining the handle up and makes connecting to the bear claw much easier. The lock has to be lined up seperately but it 's not too hard to do. Here's the pieces I used to add the lever to activate the latch and how they were assembled.
The latch plate fits right behind the window channel. The lock for the passenger side was welded to the top of the bear claw and the internal c shaped part was cut down and welded to the lock piece on the bear claw.
I had an old passenger door that I cut up to pre-fit everything, the latch point for the bear claw ended up just below the dovetail.
I used a cable to attach to the inside door handle. The passenger lock can only be operated with the key and the drivers will have to have an inside lever to operate it but that's only a minor inconvenience for having smooth operating latches. Still have a tiny bit of adjusting to do and need to get the lock cylinder back in, but they work like a charm so far.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 364
Likes: 1
From: Texas Panhandle
They work really well, it was well worth the trouble.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 364
Likes: 1
From: Texas Panhandle
Trending Topics
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,511
Likes: 1
From: peyton, colorado
I used the small latches from Rocky Hinge and adapted to the stock hardware also, but my method was different. That said, I used bar stock for the links, attached with bolts, nylock nuts and nylon washers between the pieces for smooth operation. It works, but I can hear some rattling inside the door. You can only tighten the bolts so much before the joint binds. My long term solution is to change all the links over to rod ends. I'll swap the bar stock for threaded rod with rod ends. You can tighten the attachment bolts without fear of binding. Speedway carries a great selection of rod ends, and they're really not the expensive.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
df85732
1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
15
Sep 29, 2016 10:37 AM
Sir.Dino
1957 - 1960 F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
2
Nov 7, 2014 06:58 PM
paul_scooter
1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
15
Jan 11, 2009 10:33 AM