Any AD's here with shaved doors?

[WIDE LOAD C-30]

I'm looking for pics that show how you set up the actuator to pop the door open.

[youngrodder]

Sorry no pics, but I used a Dakota digital 7 channel remote set up. I also used bear claw latches. I have shaved the handles on a few trucks. The key is to have a straight line from the solenoid to the latch. I mounted my solenoid directly under the latch then just secured the solenoid to the inside of the door with screws.

* Just make sure the solenoid’s are decent strength (25 lb + should do). The ones that came with the kit were much too weak.
* Also make sure the cable going from the solenoid to the latch has some slack. This allows to the solenoid to work properly. Too tight and it just binds.

Good luck
Marc

[chev3600]

I used the AVS shaved door kit, it has two solenoids on each door and it worked well. The info from youngrodder is perfect, gotta have a bit of force to pop these doors open even with the bear claws.

[WIDE LOAD C-30]

Is it possible with stock latches?

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by WIDE LOAD C-30

Is it possible with stock latches?

Anything is possible but I imagine it would not be as easy. I can't speak to first hand knowledge with stock latches.

Marc

[gale]

Originally Posted by youngrodder

Sorry no pics, but I used a Dakota digital 7 channel remote set up. I also used bear claw latches. I have shaved the handles on a few trucks. The key is to have a straight line from the solenoid to the latch. I mounted my solenoid directly under the latch then just secured the solenoid to the inside of the door with screws.

* Just make sure the solenoid’s are decent strength (25 lb + should do). The ones that came with the kit were much too weak.
* Also make sure the cable going from the solenoid to the latch has some slack. This allows to the solenoid to work properly. Too tight and it just binds.

Good luck
Marc

I plan to shave the handles on my '54 while it's disassembled and the cab is on a rotisserie. Can you tell me which Bear Claw latch to buy?

I saw another thread where the owner reversed the latch so the solenoid was in the door jamb. Do you see any merit to that?

Also, what modifications do I need to make on the door and jamb to accept the Bear Claw latch?

[chev3600]

I saw a build that had them reversed. I like the idea of being able to keep the wiring in the cab. Easier to mount the solenoids too, not sure about having the lock bolt sticking out of the end of the door. Someone has surely done it cleanly.

[oldman3]

Gale and chev3600, I installed by bear claw latches in reverse to most others.
It worked great for me and what I wanted. Mine are manually operated which is what I wanted. Don't want to fill up this thread with my pics, but you can go to my thread (in my signature) On page 7 post #155 thru 160 shows install of latch. On page 9 post #214 thru 218 shows manual hook up. On page 16 post #383 show latch after paint, and page 17 post #404 shows the post in the door after paint. I think is looks very clean, but I could be wrong...Jim

[gale]

Looks great and I like the strike in the door.

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by gale

I plan to shave the handles on my '54 while it's disassembled and the cab is on a rotisserie. Can you tell me which Bear Claw latch to buy?

I saw another thread where the owner reversed the latch so the solenoid was in the door jamb. Do you see any merit to that?

Also, what modifications do I need to make on the door and jamb to accept the Bear Claw latch?

Really there are only 2 sizes of bear claw latches. Go with the small size. This is really important if you put the latch in the door because it will come close to interfering with the window channel in the door. This is also another reason to consider mounting the latch in the door jam. Nothing really differnt needs to be done to the door jam that you would need to do to the door in order to mount the latch. Pretty much the same.

Marc