1951 Ford F-1 Door Lock Question

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Sep 30, 2009 | 08:22 PM

burnettd01

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Laughing Gas

Joined: Jul 2009

Posts: 802

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From: Lincoln CA

1951 Ford F-1 Door Lock Question

Ok, now that I have the cab off of the frame and in my garage, I am preparing to tear it down and send it out for media blast.

I have been studying the floor for potential replacement pannels and how I am going to fix the rusted pannels. While doing this and thinking of all the modifications I want to do to the truck, I realized there is no outside door lock cylinder on the drivers door.

So, naturally, I walked over to the passenger side and there it is - an outside door lock cylinder.

Being the rocket scientist that I am, I thought - well, that's odd - shouldn't the lock cylinder be on the drivers side.

So, I decided that I needed to ask the question - Why did Ford put a lock cylinder and key on the passenger door instead of the driver's door.

So, I am posing this question to all of you who have a vast knowledge of Ford vehicles.

Why would Ford choose to do this?

There must be a reasonable answer.

So, anyone have an answer to this strange question?

Thanks

Dan

Sep 30, 2009 | 08:31 PM

havi

I'll have the Roast Duck

Joined: Jul 2002

Posts: 9,622

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From: Northshore, MN

back in the day, it was only respectable to let the lady exit the passenger side first. Then lock the door behind her. Exiting the driver's side meant stepping out into traffic. No gentleman would ever let her do such a thing.

Sep 30, 2009 | 09:11 PM

rb48f6

Senior User

Joined: Jul 2007

Posts: 410

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From: SE / NWL MI

Safety issue to keep you out of traffic. Before malls and mega parking lots we had parallel parking on the street. The proper (safe) way to get in and out of a car was from the curb or passsenger side. It wasn't just Ford, I just walked out and looked at my bro's 37 Chev coupe... there's only a tumbler in the passenger side handle. I actually remember the old driver ed movie's showing such unusual, by today's standards, behavior. Nothing like sliding in wool suits across a mohair seat, then saying goodnight to your date. Maybe that's where the term "sparking" came from....

Sep 30, 2009 | 10:19 PM

ALBUQ F-1

Fleet Owner

Joined: Jul 2004

Posts: 27,283

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From: NM

I think Henry was just a cheap SOB and knew he could charge extra for it. If he only put one on the driver's side, no one would pay extra for one on the passenger side..

Oct 1, 2009 | 12:13 AM

51PanelMan

Lead Driver

Joined: Dec 2004

Posts: 7,669

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From: San Jose, CA

Door lock on the driver's door was an option on standard trucks. 5 Star Extra Cab optioned trucks had the driver's door lock.

To convert yours, you'll really just need the latching mechanism from a 5 Star Extra Cab truck driver's door. Then you'd just drill a hole in your existing door for the tumbler to fit.

The latches come up on eBay from time to time. Matter of fact, in the last month, there were two. The first sold for $50 (a steal) and the other sold for near or over $100.

Click on the link to see differences between standard vs 5 Star Extra Cabs. Photos in modelking2's '51/52 Std cab vs 5 Star Extra' album

Oct 1, 2009 | 12:45 AM

Julies Cool F1

Post Fiend

Joined: May 2008

Posts: 7,641

Likes: 21

From: Poway, Ca.

Gee it's been a while since this question has come up - at least a month now.

These two links will probably answer your two next questions about door locks:

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

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...handles-2.html

Post #3 of th esecond link has a picture of the door lock mechanism that has the extra "tungue" for the exterior lock....it's labelled in the photo.

Oct 1, 2009 | 10:16 AM