Drivers side Door Latch

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Jul 25, 2004 | 08:13 AM

53Merc

Thread Starter

Elder User

Joined: Aug 2003

Posts: 628

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From: High Park, Toronto

Drivers side Door Latch

Does anyone rebuild these?

I have 5 passenger side latches and 2 drivers side. Of course, teh passenger side are in better shape!

Trouble is I think the spring on the openning lever is shot and I am having a hell of a time getting in and out mostly out, of my side of the truck.

Anyone have a spare for sale?

LMK

Jul 25, 2004 | 09:46 AM

hot1958

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Joined: Dec 2002

Posts: 214

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From: outsidechicago

hey merc,try sacramento vintage ford.i think they have latch's or they have rebuild part's for them.hope this help's/scott.

Jul 25, 2004 | 11:30 AM

oldfordtrucker

Junior User

Joined: Apr 2004

Posts: 96

Likes: 1

Bought mine from Mid Fifties. Excellent reproduction, plated and all. Only flaw I found was that they needed to be "tweaked" to fit. Stock original latches look like they are slightly bent in two planes. These are (I think) factory dimensions. Mid Fifties new ones are straight and square, which will not fit. It is easy to put the slight bend in place. The only reason I am going into this detail is because I suspect that the same offshore company is producing all the latches and you'll get the same latch latch from whoever you buy it from. Cost was around $75 if I remember right.

Jul 25, 2004 | 11:55 AM

53Merc

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Joined: Aug 2003

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From: High Park, Toronto

Hi Guys,
Thanks, I new about these repopped items, just thought I could score a good working one from someone's spare bin!
GW

Jul 25, 2004 | 08:00 PM

abe

Fleet Owner

Joined: Dec 2000

Posts: 25,416

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From: Central PA

Try ebay for used, NOS, or repo latches.

Also, if the trouble is opening the door especially from the inside, it might not be the latch, it could be that your door is bent or mis-aligned.

abe

Jul 25, 2004 | 08:03 PM

abe

Fleet Owner

Joined: Dec 2000

Posts: 25,416

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From: Central PA

PS: Or, it may be that your door hinges are bent and the door may be jammed shut and thus hard to open,

abe, again

Jul 25, 2004 | 10:15 PM

53Merc

Thread Starter

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Joined: Aug 2003

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From: High Park, Toronto

So Abe

Quote:

Originally Posted by abe

PS: Or, it may be that your door hinges are bent and the door may be jammed shut and thus hard to open,

abe, again

So Abe, how can I tell which it is and more importantly, how do I repair?

GW

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Jul 26, 2004 | 10:47 AM

oldfordtrucker

Junior User

Joined: Apr 2004

Posts: 96

Likes: 1

53 merc:

Good question: how do you know it is the latch? Easiest way I can think of is to carefully mark the outline of the striker plate on the door. Remove the striker plate. If the door swings freely, you have a latch problem,or adjustment problem, if the door is sticky or balks, the problem is somewhere on the truck-hinges, alignment, binding etc. I had similar problems and it was the latch. If your door operates freely with the striker plate removed, try a striker plate adjustment. Reinstall the striker plate ,lining it up with the marks you made when you removed it. Tighten the 3 screws so that you can tap the striker around and it will still stay in place. Door opening problems you have could be caused by the striker plate being too far towards the inside of the truck. Tap the striker toward the outside of the truck and close the door. Play around with moving the striker out and you may solve your problem. It is very difficult to explain in writing why this occurrs, but it does. It sounds backwards, but you can move the door closer to the truck in the closed position by moving the striker plate outward. Also, a bad latch can cause the same problem. Experiment before you spend your money. (Afterthought- I bet most used hinges are pretty well worn out, especially the driver's door. )

Good luck