47-59 *Door Is Starting To Really Tick My Off*

[Zippi]

I've had this issue ever since I got my 49. I replaced the spring in the remote on the drivers side as it was broken. 50% of the time when I close the door it will not latch shut. I have to fiddle with the outside or inside handle and then it will shut. It's really beginning to irritate me. They are the original parts. What should I be looking at for any adjustment?

[dsraven]

prolly the latch is worn out but without a few pics we are guessing. first, how does the door fit in the opening without the latch being latched, like as the door closes just before the latch engages does the door line up or does the door fitting rely on the latch to bring the door into the closed and fitting position? is the door seal tight so the door needs to be slammed to get the latch to actually catch?
best idea is to remove the striker and see how the door actually fits the opening. adjust hinges as required and then look at the seals. the door should seal when the body lines up. some new rubber is stiff so the latch takes a beating to hold the door against the tension of the thick rubber. pretty common actually. the door skin should sit level with the body like you would expect. if the seal is too thick i recommend soffseal but thats just me. others have different favorites that still compress easily and seal. when that is figured out look at the hand lever and linkage for wear binding etc. when all good look at the outside door handle for wear binding etc. when all good look at the latch mechanism for wear, springs dirt etc. bench test it a few times so you know how it works and why it may fail periodically. when all good install the latch and striker and adjust the set up so the door sits even with the bodywork. then test the set up a bunch of times. sometimes it's just in need of a cleaning and lube and sometimes it's just plain worn out. one thing that a lot of guys do when adjusting the doors is expect the latch to magically bring the door into align with the body, like lift it or bring it down into the final position needed. that is not what they were made for. a latch is just that, a latch. it isn't a body man in disguise. using the latch for the final alignment is just wearing the latch and striker out.

[mr48chev]

Worn out latches and worn out strikers are real common with these trucks. It gets worse if the hinges are/were sloppy.

[Zippi]

Here are a few pics fellows. The doors fit great and the gaps are fine. It's just that the door will not latch half the time.

[joedoh]

are the outside handles new? cheap fix. I had a truck that the outside handles drooped and when you hit a bump would drop the handle enough to pop the door open!

[Zippi]

Originally Posted by joedoh

are the outside handles new? cheap fix. I had a truck that the outside handles drooped and when you hit a bump would drop the handle enough to pop the door open!

The doors on my 49 or actually 52 doors with the push button handles. They seem to be in really good condition. The striker plate looks ok so I'm thinking the area on the latch that I have circles may be warn pretty good. Could this be may issue??? Can that little piece be replaced or would I need to buy the whole latch?

[cmayna]

The lower worn area would be a concern to me.

[GreasyLikeaBurger]

the rotating latch portion is riveted into the latch assembly. It might even be tight door seals, not allowing the door to fully close and allow the latch to lock.

[Zippi]

Thanks for the reply's guys. I currently do not have the door seals on, Those are in the mail as we speak. just the cab seals. I'm thinking maybe a new latch is in the future. Does anyone have a good source for a latch that works better than others?

[greg_h]

I have seen this advertised but always wondered what it was a fix for. Looks like it may be for the wear on your latch. Does it slip over the rotating cam to give a new surface? https://www.oldchevytrucks.com/cart/...8&i=19125|||||

[Zippi]

Originally Posted by greg_h

I have seen this advertised but always wondered what it was a fix for. Looks like it may be for the wear on your latch. Does it slip over the rotating cam to give a new surface? https://www.oldchevytrucks.com/cart/...8&i=19125|||||

I saw those but wasn't sure what they were used for. Interesting. Anyone ever use one?

[Katrina/10]

I bought some of those repair shims many years ago, they do work.

[Zippi]

Thanks for the link greg_h and the info Katrina/10. I assume these Door Latch Repair Clips for warn tumbles is a pretty tight fit as I see no other way they would stay on. They are only $4.50 a pop so next time I put an order into Classic Parts I'll give them a try.

[Katrina/10]

Yes, they just snap on, very easy installation. They improve the closing of the door if the latches are worn. I'm still using them.

[jweb]

I'm not sure if it causes a problem , since you have '52 doors the latches and striker plates are different.

Here's what a striker looks like in a '52

[Katrina/10]

Those are very different from the pull down handle type! I wonder about the compatibility.

[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by Zippi

so I'm thinking the area on the latch that I have circles may be warn pretty good. Could this be may issue??? Can that little piece be replaced or would I need to buy the whole latch?

your latches were worn out 20 years ago, maybe even 40 years ago
i'd buy new latches and strikers and be done with it, the repops are actually quite good
a lot of guys look at altman or bearclaw at this point, when new latches are all you need

for many years we didn't have a choice of buying the repop latches
i put a set on truk 10 years ago and have never had an issue or unlatch

[jweb]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

your latches were worn out 20 years ago, maybe even 40 years ago
i'd buy new latches and strikers and be done with it, the repops are actually quite good
a lot of guys look at altman or bearclaw at this point, when new latches are all you need

for many years we didn't have a choice of buying the repop latches
i put a set on truck 10 years ago and have never had an issue or unlatch

Unfortunately the repop latches for 47-51 trucks aren't so great. I have tried several on my truck and they were never quite right. I recently replaced the passenger side with a NOS latch and it closes like my Silverado. I wish I could find one for the drivers side.

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by jweb

Unfortunately the repop latches for 47-51 trucks aren't so great. I have tried several on my truck and they were never quite right. I recently replaced the passenger side with a NOS latch and it closes like my Silverado. I wish I could find one for the drivers side.

yeah no one reputable has carried the 47-51 latches for a while, only place I can still find them is ebay and the reviews are terrible.

everyone who walks in my storage sees all the 47-51 doors and asks to buy latches, just latches, at pennies on the dollar, we are talking 10 bucks each. glad I am not storing that stuff outside yet.

zippi I wonder what is going on with your truck, its a 49 (outside cowl) with 52+ pushbutton handles but one piece glass. thats a lot of work, even just to install pushbutton handles, a few guys in the project forums have done variations of that, 52 doors with wings on a 47-51 cab, or just adding pushbutton handles to 47-51 doors. but I think yours may be the first with one piec window conversion (which isnt easy, you need all the parts of both doors if I remember)

definitely keep us updated on what you find

[MiraclePieCo]

Originally Posted by jweb

I'm not sure if it causes a problem , since you have '52 doors the latches and striker plates are different.

Great catch; I didn't notice that the OP added that information later.

I also have '52 doors on a '49 cab. I posted a thread on how I modified the late strikers (push-button handle) to fit the early cab (pull-down handle):

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=764691

[Zippi]

Thanks for all the info guys. Correct me if I'm wrong. Looks like I have 49 striker plates and 52 latches???

[jweb]

Originally Posted by Zippi

Thanks for all the info guys. Correct me if I'm wrong. Looks like I have 49 striker plates and 52 latches???

That’s correct, you will need to make some strikers like Miracle pie showed for your doors to work right.

[mick53]

Could you just build up the latch in the worn spots with a TIG and reshape them?

[Zippi]

I put an order in at Classic Parts and got a couple of the door latch repair clips with my order. If they don't work they were only $4.50 a pop. We'll see.

[Zippi]

I got my order in from Classic Parts today and the door latch repair clips came. I was a little skeptical when I ordered these clips and wasn't really expecting much. WOW....what a HUGH difference. Both doors now latch with ease. Didn't even have to adjust the striker plate. Added a little grease and that was it. Thanks for all the help fellows. I'm a happy camper now ☺