Doors won't lock

[Garagedude]

The doors will never lock, I bought the truck last year and haven't driven on the street yet, but am getting ready too, I would like to be able to park it in a parking lot and know that somebody is not going though my cab. When I close the door and try and lock it the I can't push the thing all the way down and when I can, I can still open the door, anyway i have this problem on both sides, I was looking into buying new latches and strikers, but is that the problem or is this just an adjustment type thing. I hate lining body panels up and doing this type stuff. Thanks Steffen

[John Fabris]

It could be an alignment problem with the door or the door striker/latch mechinism or both....

I have seen where you push on the door (into the cab) and turn the key to lock at the same time and then it works...

On one of my trucks, I had to play with the alignment of the door catch on the cab, and also added some anti-sieze to the door, and it now locks easy....

[chev-obsession]

did you try to lubricate them any?

[71tahoe]

Originally Posted by chev-obsession

did you try to lubricate them any?

Yeah, 40 years of rust. Good idea to get in there and clean and lube.

[2bits]

I have to push on my door slightly while turning the key to lock mine too, then it goes all trhe way down. Also the lock cylinder may have spun slightly.

[jef5150]

Try locking the door when its "open" and see if it locks.
If it does ,its(probably) an striker alignment issue.

Heres a couple of pictures that should help you out when you take the door panel off.(passenger door)

Both key and cab button mechanism are connected to a bar with a point on it,
it slides "up" and locks the door,check to see that the point is going "up" into that round assembly in the 2nd picture.
The rods in there have clips that can be moved to increase or decrease the movement of each rod.
You'll understand more when you start moving rods and buttons.
Like everybody said."dont forget to lube everything up".

jeff

[Garagedude]

Thanks everybody for the suggestions and advice. Thanks jef5105 for the pictures and details. I know that the striker plate is defiantly shimmed too much. I am going to play around with it this weekend. I have some other parts to put on like my new Holley, seat belts, and some other stuff. Thanks again guys

[Garagedude]

I think I am going to take it apart and clean and lube it up, put it back together and see what happen, the striker plate I think is shimmed to much cause they rub.

[PanelDeland]

Just in case.You cannot lock the door and close it on these trucks.You have to close the door and lock it with the key.I have to push in slightly on mine to lock it.I know some have not known this and thought their door locks were bad.