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It just dawned on me this afternoon that my drivers side door does not have a key lock/unlock. There is one on the passenger side though. WHAT IS UP WITH THAT
The driver side door can be locked from the inside (pull up on the door handle, push down to unlock). The effort to add a lock isn't trivial. Look to the usual sources (Carpenter, Mid-Fifty, and others) for the mechanisms.
On my 51 it was a little more complicated than just cutting the hole. Besides finding the door latch mechanism with the lock assembly, the means to attach the key lock tumbler needs to be added. We cut that area out of a badly rusted Deluxe door and installed it in my regular 5 star door.
The driver side door can be locked from the inside (pull up on the door handle, push down to unlock). The effort to add a lock isn't trivial. Look to the usual sources (Carpenter, Mid-Fifty, and others) for the mechanisms.
On the 53-56 models you pull the door handle back to open and push it forward to lock the door. You then slide across the seat and lock the passenger door from the outside. SOmetimes I exit from the driver's door, go around the truck and reach in through the passenger door to push the driver's door handle down, then lock the passenger door.
It is no big deal. How many times do you lock your truck anyhow? The only time I locked my 55 was when I was at the motel when I was at the Ford Nationals at Carlisle in June. I can't remember the last time I locked my 54.
In the meantime, whatever you do, DO NOT lock the passenger door using the inside handle. Use the key on the outside only. The key will NOT unlock that door if the handle has been pulled up on the inside (or forward on the 53-56's). Ask me how I know this.
On the more modern advanced 53-56 models you can not lock the passenger door by pushing the handle forward and then closing the door. Doc, you probably were not the first one to do that and so they corrected that problem in 1953.
The installation kit includes the template for cutting the hole in the door.
The driver's side latch is a mirror of the passenger side and will accommodate the lock.
Originally Posted by abe
On the more modern advanced 53-56 models you can not lock the passenger door by pushing the handle forward and then closing the door. Doc, you probably were not the first one to do that and so they corrected that problem in 1953.
Something Abe didn't mention, if you lock an F-100 door by the handle, the key will unlock it.
Example: If you reach across and lock the passenger door from the inside, you can come back and unlock it with the key from the outside.
Also, you can actually lock the passenger door with the handle and then close it. At least mine did. You just rip half the teeth from the strike plate. Wanna guess how I know?
Thanks John. I assume a kit could be added. Does anyone know the answer to that?
I added the key hole on my drivers door on the one I'm doing now and also using the Altman locks which I had to modify to work. I also bought the power lock kit from Midfifty..
There is a service bulletin from 1953 that addresses this issue as the replacement driver doors all came without the key hole. The TSB supplied a template and I can only assume it's the same one mid fifty supplies
