Door Latches 56 Driver

[sider68]

My door on 56 chev pick up wont lock. Is this common? Where do I start? I cant even drive it to a garage as door will fly open. Not sure if its a simple fix or not. I didnt want to tear into and just have another project on my hands that never gets fixed. Please advise

[Rude Dude]

Replace it if its worn had an Uncle Fall out of my dad's old truck also replace the stricker. They are easyly done or change over to bear claw by Altman.

http://webrodder.com/article.php?AID=539&SID=60

[buggy5872]

I put alman latches in my 57 LCF crew cab and I will be doing the same to my other two TF trucks. It was simple to do and they work 10 times better than stock. They do not lock from the inside though. You have to have outside handles with the key locks but for how much better they work it is a small price to pay. I put safety locks on the rear doors since they are suicide and my kids are back there so you could put them on fronts if you really need to lock them.

[OrrieG]

The combination of a worn striker and worn hinges is usually the culprit. I put seat belts in my truck because every once in a while the kids would not get the passenger door tight and I did not want to lose them! Rude has the solution, I am replacing mine with stock, if I wasn't so far into my build I would consider the Altman or similar set up. Good new stock ones will last 200K miles or 30 years, which ever comes first (based on my experience).

[sider68]

I have assembly book but no info on closers Do they come apart from the inside of door

[buggy5872]

OrrieG....The altman latches can be put in with mininal modification to only the door. The most that would have to be repainted would be the door panels and the edge where you cut the door. I am doing my 59 that has been finished for years and have no intention of redoing it anytime soon.