The driver door latch cable finally gave out on my '92 F-250 Custom. And to think, it only lasted thru 14 years and 185k miles of contractor duty!!

Well, the local dealer wants $125 + tax for the assy. and it's $95+$14 shipping online... there are none at my sources for used parts - w/o buying a whole door.

So, I want to try to retrofit (upfit?) a rod-type door latch and remote assy. from an earlier F-250 into my door. There are many of these in decent shape at the pick-n-pull. My target is a '90-91 F-250 donor for a couple reasons: best chance of having the basic door design/dimensions being the same, youngest (in terms of years of corrosion) used parts, and, again, I know they are available for less than $20 incl'g a warranty if it doesn't work.

Anybody out there try this conversion? Am I doomed?

--29er

P.S. The problem with my latch/remote assy isn't just a broken cable, the remote lever (not handle) is also badly worn at the bushing and the return spring is no longer springy, either.

 

try national parts depot in the left column.

 

I just received the cable only from Monster Auto Parts that I ordered off the Internet. They are also available from Blue Oval Truck Parts. Cost is about $20 with shipping and you should receive it in a couple of days.

 

Pleasant surprise: it worked!

Took a rod-type door latch and remote assembly from a '90 F-250 that was in very good mechanical condition (just a bunch of greasy dust-bunnies inside) and traded it into my '92 door. I traded the rod for the manual (interior) lock since the old rod had course threads and my thumb lock thing (what are those things called?) has fine. Also used the original rod to the lock cylinder since the plastic connectors for the cylinders are different.

A perfect fit was acheived after thumb wrestling all the rods, as it's a bit tight inside the door with both hands in there. The original snap-connector to the lock cylinder broke when trying to re-install, it so a quick trip to the dealer was required to finish... but the replacement latch assy. was in for the trip. I figured I would install the clip there in case the new one also broke. I bought their last one and it went on w/o a hitch.

The rod-type is much more solid than my worn out cable-type. Cost: $18 for the used rod-type latch and remote assy. and $9.50 for the new plastic connector. Two hours driving and two hours labor (incl. pick-n-pull time). I'm satisfied.

---29er

P.S. For a moment, I thought the window was hitting the rod and so would stop about 1/2 in from all the way down. But, it turns out that you need to remove the Maglight used to illuminate the inside of the door during the work after you install the latch, etc. Duh-umb.