Door question
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New User
Joined: May 2008
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Door question
Hello,
The drivers side door on my 56, isn't opening or closing properly. When I go to close the door I have to open and close it several times before it latches, and when I go to open the door, I usually have to press the button, and pull on it several times to get the door to open. When I'm inside the truck, basically the same thing happens, I have to pull it shut several times to make it latch, and when I need to open it, I use the handle, and have to push the door several times to make it open.
Any ideas or tips would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
jy.
The drivers side door on my 56, isn't opening or closing properly. When I go to close the door I have to open and close it several times before it latches, and when I go to open the door, I usually have to press the button, and pull on it several times to get the door to open. When I'm inside the truck, basically the same thing happens, I have to pull it shut several times to make it latch, and when I need to open it, I use the handle, and have to push the door several times to make it open.
Any ideas or tips would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
jy.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 4,489
Likes: 5
From: Valley Center, CA
It sounds like an alignment issue. I would take the strike plate off first and see if the door closes correctly, or does it need alignment. If it does not shut correctly, use the adjustment points to center it in the opening and make it close flush to the body. Then re-install the strike plate and thru trial and error, adjust it so that the door is held snugly against the rubber door seal. When my door started to be a "hard closer," I found out that my strike plate had moved a little and was causing an alignment problem. Good luck, Jag
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 206
Likes: 0
From: Atwater, CA
JY,
Which latch mechanism do you have installed on your truck? I am having the same problem with my truck and have decided to install new bear claw latches to see if that will fix the problem. Seeing as though I just had the truck painted, I found bolt-on (rather than weld on - ruining my new paint) bear claw latches at Mid Fifty and am going to install them ASAP. I've talked with many people who have changed from the standard latches to bear claw latches and all of their "door closing" problems were eliminated.
Which latch mechanism do you have installed on your truck? I am having the same problem with my truck and have decided to install new bear claw latches to see if that will fix the problem. Seeing as though I just had the truck painted, I found bolt-on (rather than weld on - ruining my new paint) bear claw latches at Mid Fifty and am going to install them ASAP. I've talked with many people who have changed from the standard latches to bear claw latches and all of their "door closing" problems were eliminated.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 206
Likes: 0
From: Atwater, CA
Randy Jack,
After countless hours of trying to get the door to close and open like it should, I finally gave up. Even my body man has stopped by and gave it a try. The door is aligned perfectly and we have tried moving the striker plate and even went as far as taking it off and making sure that the door, is in fact, aligned...and it still won't open and close easily on a regular basis. What I believe is happening with my latch is that there is some play in the star latch itself, so instead of turning it is getting wedged in the striker plate and won't let the door release. (There is more than 1/8" up and down play in the star latch) Plus, I'm dealing with the fact that the PO shaved the door handles, and although I like the look, the darned doors have to be perfect for them to open. IMHO I feel that the bear claw latches will be a little safer in the long run.
After countless hours of trying to get the door to close and open like it should, I finally gave up. Even my body man has stopped by and gave it a try. The door is aligned perfectly and we have tried moving the striker plate and even went as far as taking it off and making sure that the door, is in fact, aligned...and it still won't open and close easily on a regular basis. What I believe is happening with my latch is that there is some play in the star latch itself, so instead of turning it is getting wedged in the striker plate and won't let the door release. (There is more than 1/8" up and down play in the star latch) Plus, I'm dealing with the fact that the PO shaved the door handles, and although I like the look, the darned doors have to be perfect for them to open. IMHO I feel that the bear claw latches will be a little safer in the long run.
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,190
Likes: 2
From: Riverside, So Cal
Shane -
Sounds like you are correct. If the star latch has that much movement, you either need to replace the latch or go to the bearclaws. The nice thing is that the bearclaws are pretty much trouble free.
Good luck.
Sounds like you are correct. If the star latch has that much movement, you either need to replace the latch or go to the bearclaws. The nice thing is that the bearclaws are pretty much trouble free.
Good luck.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 206
Likes: 0
From: Atwater, CA
Randy Jack,
Thanks! What should be fairly simple project will probably turn out to be a couple of hours of frustration.
(Comes with the territory!) But sooner or later I'll get the job done.
The one thing I like about these latches is that the guy that designed and engineered them is willing to take phone calls and quetions about the install. Even before I bought the latches, I talked with him and he was very helpful. Nice guy and he loves old trucks just like we do.
Thanks! What should be fairly simple project will probably turn out to be a couple of hours of frustration.
(Comes with the territory!) But sooner or later I'll get the job done. The one thing I like about these latches is that the guy that designed and engineered them is willing to take phone calls and quetions about the install. Even before I bought the latches, I talked with him and he was very helpful. Nice guy and he loves old trucks just like we do.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 4,489
Likes: 5
From: Valley Center, CA
Shane, please take lots of pix. I'm sure that lots od trucks need this fix and others will undoubtedly appreciate the pictoral guidance. 
Jag
Jag
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 206
Likes: 0
From: Atwater, CA
Jag,
Will do. The latches are from Mid-Fifty and are called Altmans Easy Latch. These are bolt-on latches that requires very little cutting and no welding (which is nice seeing as though I just had the cab painted - the door not wanting to close started after they were finally aligned correctly). After talking with Mr. Altman on the phone, he said the latches will align with the stock holes and the only cuts that have to be made are for the latches themselves. The striker bolt even lines up with the holes for the original striker plate. We'll see how it works out. I'll take plenty of pictures and will post them as soon as I finish, along with a narrative of how it went. (Some folks have stated that it took them an hour to do both doors. I'm not that lucky.)
Will do. The latches are from Mid-Fifty and are called Altmans Easy Latch. These are bolt-on latches that requires very little cutting and no welding (which is nice seeing as though I just had the cab painted - the door not wanting to close started after they were finally aligned correctly). After talking with Mr. Altman on the phone, he said the latches will align with the stock holes and the only cuts that have to be made are for the latches themselves. The striker bolt even lines up with the holes for the original striker plate. We'll see how it works out. I'll take plenty of pictures and will post them as soon as I finish, along with a narrative of how it went. (Some folks have stated that it took them an hour to do both doors. I'm not that lucky.)
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
I suspect the wear play in the latch coupled with the likelyhood that there are some sort of door poppers installed when the handles were shaved are causing a binding. You could swap it wth a known good latch and see if it solves the problem, but the bearclaw style latch is a superior design especially for shaved doors.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 206
Likes: 0
From: Atwater, CA
AXracer,
You are so right. When I bought the truck, the door wouldn't close at all unless you lifted up on the door. I think the PO did it so much that the door was actually BENT outward starting at the bottom of the window. (When the door was shut there was a 3/4" gap at the top.) He also bent the inside of the door with his shoulder trying to get the door open. So who knows how long the door was out of alignment which put all kinds of pressure on the latch. And the thing I always remember....that old truck is 52 years old.
You are so right. When I bought the truck, the door wouldn't close at all unless you lifted up on the door. I think the PO did it so much that the door was actually BENT outward starting at the bottom of the window. (When the door was shut there was a 3/4" gap at the top.) He also bent the inside of the door with his shoulder trying to get the door open. So who knows how long the door was out of alignment which put all kinds of pressure on the latch. And the thing I always remember....that old truck is 52 years old.
Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
Altman's Easy Latch
I work with Terry Altman and I hope that you enjoy the Altman's Easy Latch. It is an awesome product and we always enjoy hearing from customers. This is a picture that was sent to us from one of our first customers. He purchased the Stainless Steel version that works with his existing handles. Let us know how your install went and if I can help anyone here with any questions or comments please feel free to e-mail me.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 206
Likes: 0
From: Atwater, CA
I finally installled the Altmans Easy Latch Bear Claw Locking Kit that I ordered from MidFifty. I made a few changes because I have shaved doors (installed the latches upsidedown), and they work well. See the pictures in my gallery.
