Locks on Passenger Door 51 9300 GMC

[musgrave]

Hello I just bought a 1951 GMC 9300. As I was taking the truck apart, I notice that the passenger door has the key lock on it. And the driver side doesn't have it. Any thoughts. Thanks

[_Ogre]

both doors lock on the inside by pushing the inside handle forward.
to secure your truck lock the drivers door, slide over and exit the passenger door and lock the passenger door from the outside with the key.
strange but true... gm did this thru 59

[Lextech]

I have been told that it was a common practice to enter and exit vehicles on the passenger side/curb side. That is why the lock is only on the passenger side.

Jeff

[daveboy]

That's how I understand it. People were expected not to open the driver's door when parallel parked in town. Doing so would (and still does) exposes them to oncoming traffic. So, they locked the driver's door by pushing the handle forward, sliding across the seat, exiting from the passenger's door safely on the curb, and locking that door with the key. Fortunately, for me, previous owner had changed mine over and put the key lock on the driver's door.

[musgrave]

OK then I guess I don't have to stay awake anymore thinking about this one. Thank you for helping me solve it.

[Russell Ashley]

Times have changed. My first truck had only one lock on the passenger side and only one windshield wiper on the driver side.
I don't know about ADs with pull down handles but if you have the push button handles you can put the lock in either side.

[Divine 59]

^^^^I did this, but to use the key in the lock cylinder on the drivers side I have to put the key "cut side up" on the drivers side and "cut side down" on the passenger side.

[mr48chev]

Originally Posted by Russell Ashley

Times have changed. My first truck had only one lock on the passenger side and only one windshield wiper on the driver side.
I don't know about ADs with pull down handles but if you have the push button handles you can put the lock in either side.

On the ones with the twist outside handles you push down on the driver's inside handle to lock it and lift up to open if if the handle is on correctly.

I remember my wife getting her nose out of joint in the 70's after I put a sterio in the 48 and asked her to reach across and lock the door after I got out and reach across and open it after she got in.

[Russell Ashley]

Originally Posted by Divine 59

^^^^I did this, but to use the key in the lock cylinder on the drivers side I have to put the key "cut side up" on the drivers side and "cut side down" on the passenger side.

I replaced the lock in my TF driver side door recently with a reproduction set. My key goes in with the cut side down, but the slot doesn't have the tab to indicate which way the key goes like the original. I don't know if all of the reproductions are the same but mine is junk.

[coralhead]

Haven't you guys watched the Andy Griffith show. He and Barney always got out on the curb when in town.