Seems there always door latch questions on here.
I have what I hope is a simple one.


Mif fifties parts shows that 53-55 f-100 has a different door latch and striker than 56 f-100. Can you put the 56 door latch into the 53 door as long as you replace the 53 striker with a 56 striker?


I'm working on ressurecting a project truck my 11 year old son inherited. It's currently a 53 cab and we are going to put the truck back on the road for now . But we will be changing to a 56 cab at some point. The 56 cab has some latches in the parts box and 2 new strikers and hardware mounted in the 56 cab.
The 53 cab has a couple latches that need springs replaced (the new springs are there too) and one used striker. I didn't want to spend the money on new 53 stuff if I Could use the 56 stuff.


I haven't been able to start comparing parts side by side because the parts are buried in another barn behind a foot of snow that I need to walk across a field to get to... and it's fridgid cold out. I'm trying to figure out a parts order prior to a work day scheduled for my buddies to come over and help my kid start building his truck.


Thanks
Nick

 

Nick, first of all, welcome to FTE, the best Ford truck forum on the World Wide Web. Please tell us where you are from and post a pic of your (or your son's) truck.

About your question, I 'think' you can use 56 latches if you use 56 striker plates.

 

Seems to me that Mid-Fifty address's that in their catalog. When I get back to the shop I will look at mine. If you don't have a catalog from them, get one.

 

Mid Fifty F-100 Parts
5221 Hwy 68
Golden Valley, AZ 86413
Phone: (800) 252-1956
Fax: (928) 565-2822

 

The 56 latch was an improved design for increased safety. I'd expect Mid Fifty could tell you if they will interchange. Give them a call they are very knowledgeable and helpful.

 

Thanks for the help guys. I don't have a paper copy of the mid fifties catalog on the online one. I'm a bit old school, I need a paper copy...LOL..I'll post some pics up shortly.
We are from NJ. This truck was something a buddy of mine bought when I bought my house in 1999 and gave him some garge room. He got some parts for it and a different cab, started some work on it and then lost interest and it's been sitting in my yard since then. A few years ago he signed the title over to my son who is now 11. So our plan is to just put it on the road as is and drive around. No beauty queen, no show truck, just a runner. When my son gets a little older and can make a little $$ and some decisions, he can decide how he wants the truck finally done. If it were up to him right now we'd be dropping it on a bronco chassis and plowing snow with it. Which in a few years if that's what he wants to do, I'm fine with it. It's his truck.

We are no strangers to old cars. I have a 56 Plymouth Savoy(that I have owned since 1989), a 77 Volare (yes I said Volare) and also a back burner project of a 53 Belair. So we are not a brand loyal family. We just like old cars as well as a bunch of guys we hang out with.

 

There is another option. Rather than going with a replacement of the stock door latch you could go with a more modern bear-claw latch as used on modern cars. The Altman Easy-Latch is a bear-claw latch assembly that takes the place of the stock latch and works with stock inside and outside handles and the stock lock cylinders. Link here:

1953-1956 Ford F-100 Altman Easy Latch

They also make a model for shaved look trucks with no exterior handles. This latch would be far safer and a relatively easy install. Your local speed shop may be able to get them for you. I know that So-Cal Arizona in Phoenix carries them in stock.

There are probably other options out there; however, I plan on using the Altman latches in my 48 F1 for the simplicity of install and local availability. That is AFTER I open up the stock holes the PO welded closed so he could use a solenoid latch system which he installed incorrectly. I've spent more time fixing his screw-ups than I imagines I would have to do.

 

I will check out the altman setup. I'm not sure what I want to do yet. I think first case is just to get the truck inside the shop and see what parts I have and what fits. I'm hesitant to cut the 53 doors up for latches as I'm hoping to recoup some costs selling the 53 doors when I switch to the 56 cab.
I'll have to just start putting in what parts I have and see what works.

I'm planning on shoveling it out of the snow to push it in the barn tonight and start vacuuming out all the mouse crap and stuff and evict that cat that's been living on the front seat...LOL...

 

1953/55:

BAAA-8121812-A Right & BAAA-8121813-A Left .. Door Latches.

BAAA-8122008-A Right & BAAA-8122009-A Left .. Striker Plates.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1956:

B6C-8121812-B Right & B6C-8121813-B Left .. Door Latches.

B6C-8122008-A Right & B6C-8122009-A Left .. Striker Plates.

 

She's a real beauty....If you look close you will see it's a 53, but the rear passenger corner of the cab is a 56. And whoever put it in did a real botch job, hence the reason we have a complete second cab we will eventually use.

 

The 56 latch will fit in a 53-55 door. The question will it work with the 56 latch mesh with the 53-55 door pillar. The 56 star latch is different that the 53-55. The 56 striker plate has a "cover" on it to help keep doors from popping open upon a collision. Go to Mid-fifty to see both kinds of latches and compare.

 

Thanks, I see the cover now at mid fifties...It also says the cover fits 53-56. I did manage to shove the truck out of the snow yesterday and get it in the garage..I'll just go dig out all the spare parts I have and see if anything works.

I'll post here what I find out.

 

I've got to replace worn out latches also on my 54, have you found out if the 56 latches work in the 53-55 doors. Is this a cure using the 56 style. And NO I'm not interested in the Altman latches.

 

If you have the title for a 53 why would you want to switch the cab to a 56 that won't match your title? After purchasing the Altman locks I think the original 56 lock design is the best and function much better.

 

Yes, the title does show it's a 53, I wasn't really concerned about having a 53 title and a 56 cab.


As to why I'm going to a 56 cab...Because I have it. Way back when my friend bought this truck. The 53 cab was a real hack job the previous owner cut out a quarter of the cab and replaced it with one from another truck. When I mean a quarter of the cab, it's literally a quarter of the cab. It's the whole corner about a foot into the back wall and a foot across the floor, including the door jamb and door sill area. They did it really poorly, it's all pop riveted in and it's in crooked too.


After seeing that, my buddy bought a 56 cab and 56 doors and we started working on that cab (this was around 1999-2000. we replaced both sides of the cowls with new panels, replaced both cab corners, got both doors hung and gapped properly, then he lost interest in the project and the cab has been stored in one of my other buildings all this time. He had also bought another clean hood, new front fenders and new inner front fender wells.


After years of it just sitting there, he signed the title over to me for my son to have a truck and I bought him a tickets to a couple nascar races in return.


So mainly the reason for swtiching to the 56 cab is because I already have it and most of the body work it needed is already done.


But to answer the original post. I don't know for sure if the 56 stuff will work in the 53. I didn't have to go that far. We worked on it yesterday and was able to gather up all the 53 stuff I had, changed a couple springs in the latches and got everything to work and the doors to latch closed.