OK Folks I am back with another question. Not trying to be a pest but I have searched the site and haven't been able to find an answer. My 52 has a door lock cylinder on the passenger side only. I remember back , way back, when my Grandfather had one of these trucks his was the same way. Is it possible to add a lock to the drivers door too? I'm not looking for a keyless type I want a real lock and cylinder so I can unlock the door with a key. Has anyone done this? I really never understood why there wasn't a lock on the drivers side anyway. Would some one like to fill me in on the reason there wasn't one. Thanks for all the help so far. I got my ole time slots on my truck today. Looks like it's seat time for my Grandson and I now.

 

my '59 is the same way, lock only on the passenger door and I'm also interested in why this is.

 

cause roads were narrower, and there was risk standing there in the street locking the door. thus the passenger side only, slide over, get out, lock the door standing on the curb..

a safety feature..

sam

 

maybe not much of a problem back then but what's stopping someone from walking over to the drivers side and stealing your stuff?

 

You lock the drivers side from inside the cab, then slide over and lock the passenger from outside.

Mine has a lock only on the drivers side.. so must of been added some time in its history. Mind you works out well as we in the UK drive on the wrong side of the road ;o)

 

I know on the previous 56 I had I was able to add a lock to the drivers side by just purchasing the keylock, cutting the hole in the door, and installing the lock. Of course I had to take the lock to a locksmith to have the key matched to the existing passenger side lock. Ford did have a better idea on this one. You can't just add the keylock on a GM truck, the inside latch mechanism lacks the locking part on the drivers side. Ford put the locking part in both sides, at least in 56.

 

The door lock on the Drivers side was an option. It was included in the 5 Star Extra Cab trim package. My buddy's '52 truck has the Drivers side lock, but mine does not.

 

I added the lock to the drivers side of my 53. Made a template of the passenger side then transfered to drivers side, cut hole, and added cylinder. Latch has provision already if I remember correctly. I believe the door had the slot to secure the cylinder already there. This has been awhile back. I added this to my 40 coupe also, Drake makes a kit to do it. Not as easy as F100 though. Joe

 

my 55 had locks on both doors. (before I shaved everything)

Sam

 

The latch on the 53 may have the locking mechanism built into it, but the 52 does not. Drivers side and passenger side latches on the 48-52s are different.

The philosophy was that you would flip the drivers side handle forward to lock the door, then slide out the passenger side and lock it with the key - a safety thing.

You can only modify the 52 to have a drivers side lock if you can find and "Extra Cab" latch for the drivers side that has the lock mechanism. And good luck, they are few and far between because everyone wants to do what you are talking about. This gets discussed alot here. The drivers side lock was an option on the Extra Cab, and it's a direct swap out - you do have to drill the hole for the lock cylinder in the door and you may have to find a way to anchor the lock cylinder in the door if it's not an Extra Cab door. I'm not sure if the standard doors had the screw retainer for the lock cylinder or not.

For lock cylinders, they currently repro two types. There is th eeconomy type which has an open face, and the stock reproduction - which of course are double the price. The stock reproductions can be rekeyed to match you current ignition or other door lock key - if you have a glove box door lock (which was also and Extra Cab option) they can also be rekeyed. Teh open face locks can not be rekeyed.

I know the search function is useless, and I have written to the administrators stating my frustration with having to retype the same information over and over because people can't find what has already been discussed on the matter. I've recieved no response.

But I did spend a day looking back through all my posts (all 2000 of them) and found key threads and saved them to a library of favorites so I can refere them to folks.

Here are two on door locks for Bonus Built:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...r-handles.html

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...door-lock.html

I'll keep an eye on this and if you need more help, I'll check back.

Good luck

 

Thanks to everyone. Now I will be on a mission to find a lock from an "Extra Cab"

 

Thats interesting... I don't have one either

 

Good Luck!

YOu might wanna talk to Ilya - 51 Panelman, he may have one. If it's got a busted front handle spring, there is an NORS set on e-bay - Extremely if not impossible to find the smaller ones!!!

Here's the link:

eBay Motors: 1948-1952 Ford f1-f8 Truck Door Lock Latch Springs (item 130302002068 end time Apr-29-09 21:26:05 PDT)

Make sure if you find one it has the extra lock on the bottom of it - like this one:



See the extra "tungue" on the upper left corner where it says "Extra Lock Cam Hole" that what the exterior door lock linkages are on (on the reverse side in this picture). The stock, non locking one is just square across the top. Make sure the spring on the interior door handle is installed and works if not, the inside handle will "flop around" and not lock from the inside. Again, the springs on e-bay now are the ONLY set of those I have seen - they are not repro'ed. They are not interchangeable from left to right side.

PS. The picture is also mislabelled, this is a passenger side latch, and in the picture is upside down.

 

They didn't put locks on the drivers side because they didn't want you endangering your health standing in traffic.They wanted you to exit on the passenger side. Safety First!

 

My other 52 F-1 is a five star cab and has the door lock cylinder and mechanism still on the door. The only problem is the door is, well kind of bent up and so I'm looking for a replacement. I'd be willing to trade my door as a complete unit for a non five star door that is complete. I don't need the door lock so all I need is someone willing to trade me. So far I haven't had any luck or cooperation for that matter, with anyone who has a drivers side door for a dang 48-52 F-1!