Door Latch Advice Needed -- '53
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 313
Likes: 0
From: Fairbanks, AK
Door Latch Advice Needed -- '53
Just installed new striker plates from Sacramento Ford on my '53 and my doors still rattle. I've tried to understand the adjustment instructions in my shop manual, but can't make much sense of them. I know, I'm a rookie. Can an experienced door adjustment guru out there give me some sage advice?
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
Have you tried using shims behind the striker plate yet? I dont have much knowledge on door adjustments, but I just noticed my 54 had a few shims behind the plates when I removed them. Heck I may have the same issue that you have when I pick mine back on.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
What's the condition of the weatherstipping? It is what applies outside pressure against the latch on the door. If the weatherstripping is dead, it will always rattle. Adjust the latch inwards until the outside of the door is flush with the side of the cab when latched. That should require that you push the door in against the weatherstripping when closing the door slowly.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 313
Likes: 0
From: Fairbanks, AK
I installed new shims with the new striker plates. I adjusted them all the way in (towards the seat) and they still have lots of play. Maybe I need to add shims. I'll try that next I guess, but it seems like that will only move them forward and not address the side-to-side issue. I'll check the gaskets around the doors -- they looked fairly new if I recall. Thanks.
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,190
Likes: 2
From: Riverside, So Cal
AK - It's the weatherstripping. You probably don't need the shims. They adjust the door latch the wrong way for your situation.
How I know this: my problem was that the doors didn't fair to the cab, especially along the rear vertical door edge. No adjustment I did to the latch striker would fix it. So, since I was planning to strip and repaint everything anyway, I took out the weatherstrip and adjusted the door strikers to flush them to the cab. Worked great...except they rattled (like yours).
There have been many complaints on previous threads about the stock (and thinner profile) weatherstripping. Folks say that it is near impossible to get the doors to close correctly using it. Others claim that it will collapse some after a while and then things are fine. I found some all-purpose hollow bulb adhesive-backed weatherstrip at Pep Boys that I liked and installed it. Voila! perfect. A pic of the Pep Boys weatherstrip is in my gallery album "Sketches and Miscellaneous", if you are interested.
Good luck!
How I know this: my problem was that the doors didn't fair to the cab, especially along the rear vertical door edge. No adjustment I did to the latch striker would fix it. So, since I was planning to strip and repaint everything anyway, I took out the weatherstrip and adjusted the door strikers to flush them to the cab. Worked great...except they rattled (like yours).
There have been many complaints on previous threads about the stock (and thinner profile) weatherstripping. Folks say that it is near impossible to get the doors to close correctly using it. Others claim that it will collapse some after a while and then things are fine. I found some all-purpose hollow bulb adhesive-backed weatherstrip at Pep Boys that I liked and installed it. Voila! perfect. A pic of the Pep Boys weatherstrip is in my gallery album "Sketches and Miscellaneous", if you are interested.
Good luck!
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 673
Likes: 1
From: San Diego
Im in the same boat except, my doors fit fine with cracked, leaky weatherstripping. I bought a set of the OEM style stripping, installed it, and my doors never fit right again. Ill be checking out other options. Pep Boys!?
Rich
Rich
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 313
Likes: 0
From: Fairbanks, AK
Originally Posted by Randy Jack
I found some all-purpose hollow bulb adhesive-backed weatherstrip at Pep Boys that I liked and installed it. Voila! perfect. A pic of the Pep Boys weatherstrip is in my gallery album "Sketches and Miscellaneous", if you are interested. Good luck!
Randy Jack -- thanks for the tip. No Pep Boys up here but maybe I can find something close. Or does anyone know if one of the "usual suspects" like Sac Vintage Ford, Mid-Fifty, etc... sells something similiar?
Trending Topics
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,734
Likes: 2
From: Kansas City area
I tried both the OEM thickness and the thinner ones sold by MidFifty and neither worked for me. I ended up trimming the thinner ones and it was a PITA. Next time it will be something like what Randy Jack used. If you can't find the brand he has in his gallery, try SoffSeal or Steele Rubber. They have websites but I don't have the information at my fingertips.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now
Brett Foote
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,190
Likes: 2
From: Riverside, So Cal
AK -
I think the thing to look for is a generic seal that has a hollow bulb. The base should be no wider that 9/16 and the height should be about 1/2-3/4. The peel and stick adhesive on the Pep Boys brand is very nice. It makes it easy to apply and sticks like gee whiz. The usual weatherstrip adhesive is a real drag to work with.
The doors on my 56 fit so bad that the stock weatherstrip left gaping areas at the upper door corners that you could see light thru. This stuff sealed it. No more whistling air going down the freeway!
I tried to find a part number and manufacturer on the Pep Boys stuff, but no luck. And, of course, the guys behind the counter were no help.
Good luck!
I think the thing to look for is a generic seal that has a hollow bulb. The base should be no wider that 9/16 and the height should be about 1/2-3/4. The peel and stick adhesive on the Pep Boys brand is very nice. It makes it easy to apply and sticks like gee whiz. The usual weatherstrip adhesive is a real drag to work with.
The doors on my 56 fit so bad that the stock weatherstrip left gaping areas at the upper door corners that you could see light thru. This stuff sealed it. No more whistling air going down the freeway!
I tried to find a part number and manufacturer on the Pep Boys stuff, but no luck. And, of course, the guys behind the counter were no help.
Good luck!
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 3,730
Likes: 13
From: Waynesville, OH
Hey Randy, this has come up about 10 times in the last month by my count. Do us a favor, go to www.mcmaster.com and find catalog page 3260. Tell us which one of those part numbers matches what you have. That will give us a reliable source for something that works.
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,190
Likes: 2
From: Riverside, So Cal
George -
I tried the mcmaster link you gave and my nod32 virus program blocked it saying it was a threat. I will check it from work tomorrow. My work computer's server has all the whistles to handle that.
I tried the mcmaster link you gave and my nod32 virus program blocked it saying it was a threat. I will check it from work tomorrow. My work computer's server has all the whistles to handle that.
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 3,730
Likes: 13
From: Waynesville, OH
I double-checked the link and it's to the correct place. I often get blocked URLs from the virus checker myself. Take your time.
BTW - you might take a quick look at the surrounding catalog pages as they have similar types of weatherstripping.
BTW - you might take a quick look at the surrounding catalog pages as they have similar types of weatherstripping.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 313
Likes: 0
From: Fairbanks, AK
Sounds like the Intertape brand that Pep Boys sells is the way to go -- especially since it has a self-adhesive backing. Unfortunately, you can't order it through the Intertape website, or NAPA's, or Schuck's. If anyone knows of a supplier who sells this product online please advise. I didn't see any on pg. 3260 of the McMaster website that have the self-adhesive backing.