AD Door Lock-Driver Side? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

bretcopsey · 12-15-2006, 09:12 AM

OK, I'm sure there is a logical explanation for this, but it has had me stumped. Why did GM only install door locks on the passenger side of the AD trucks? Shouldn't logic dictate that if you want to go to the trouble of locking up your truck, you'd want to take care of both sides?

I've been toying with the idea of trying to modify the dr side latch mechanism to accomodate a lock. Has anyone done this?

Lightning · 12-15-2006, 09:36 AM

Yeah i have been pondering that one as well..

stevehsd · 12-15-2006, 12:06 PM

It's a safety issue
you get out on the curb side
so ya don't get hit in the road.
I just made that up,
I dont know?

**Hart_Rod** · 12-15-2006, 12:25 PM

They did it on cars too. I'm not 100% certain, but I've been told it's a safety thing. The designers wanted people to exit on the curb side. In the "olden" days people would park curbside. They would lock their door on the drivers side and slide across to the passenger side (curbside), get out and lock the passenger door. It was supposed to help keep people off the busy streets. I'm not sure if it's true or not, but it sounds good.

bretcopsey · 12-15-2006, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hart_Rod

They did it on cars too. I'm not 100% certain, but I've been told it's a safety thing. The designers wanted people to exit on the curb side. In the "olden" days people would park curbside. They would lock their door on the drivers side and slide across to the passenger side (curbside), get out and lock the passenger door. It was supposed to help keep people off the busy streets. I'm not sure if it's true or not, but it sounds good.

But I don't see any provisions for locking the Dr side door at all...

Lightning · 12-15-2006, 01:06 PM

in my 48 there is nothing to lock the drivers door....

**Hart_Rod** · 12-15-2006, 01:15 PM

Pull the handle backwards. That's how you lock both doors from the inside.

R

solidaxel · 12-15-2006, 08:56 PM

I just swaped the handels from side to side. Why cant you just put two pas. side door handles L&R with locks. They all come apart! I just reread your post, never mind your handles are different on a 51 !!!!

Fred T · 12-17-2006, 02:45 AM

Reasoning behind the passenger side lock was twofold. First was economy, so GM only put a keyed lock on one side. Second was that when you parallel parked, the law said you could not exit the vehicle into a lane of traffic, so the lock needed to be on the passenger side. When these trucks were built most owners didn't lock them unless they were in a big city. In rural america the keys were left in the ignition, too.

dwcsr · 12-17-2006, 10:33 PM

Thats about what I have heard about exiting into traffic. It was common place to exit curb side in that time. You had the room to do it in older cars so it was faster to get in and out on that side.

12-15-2006, 09:12 AM	#1
bretcopsey Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: dayton, oh Posts: 327	AD Door Lock-Driver Side? OK, I'm sure there is a logical explanation for this, but it has had me stumped. Why did GM only install door locks on the passenger side of the AD trucks? Shouldn't logic dictate that if you want to go to the trouble of locking up your truck, you'd want to take care of both sides? I've been toying with the idea of trying to modify the dr side latch mechanism to accomodate a lock. Has anyone done this? __________________ My 51 project http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2285825 My 68 Camaro project http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2277404/1 Last edited by bretcopsey; 12-15-2006 at 10:11 AM.

12-15-2006, 09:36 AM	#2
Lightning Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: WI Posts: 25	Re: AD Door Lock-Driver Side? Yeah i have been pondering that one as well.. __________________ 1948 Chevy 3/4

12-15-2006, 12:06 PM	#3
stevehsd Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Hollister, CA Posts: 162	Re: AD Door Lock-Driver Side? It's a safety issue you get out on the curb side so ya don't get hit in the road. I just made that up, I dont know? __________________ 51 3100 build thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...light=stevehsd 77 FLH

12-15-2006, 12:25 PM	#4
Hart_Rod ************* Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pensacola, FL Posts: 17,858	Re: AD Door Lock-Driver Side? They did it on cars too. I'm not 100% certain, but I've been told it's a safety thing. The designers wanted people to exit on the curb side. In the "olden" days people would park curbside. They would lock their door on the drivers side and slide across to the passenger side (curbside), get out and lock the passenger door. It was supposed to help keep people off the busy streets. I'm not sure if it's true or not, but it sounds good. __________________ Rob - https://www.instagram.com/hart_rod_c10 As Iron Sharpens Iron, So One Man Sharpens Another. Proverbs 27:17 FOR SALE: DBW pedal bracket - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=651123 FOR SALE: Hood Brackets http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=679945 1987 Silverado SWB - 34.5K original miles http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=801834 1969 SuperBurb - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=200387 1968 Farm truck - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=358692 1968 SWB - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=551258 1948 Chevy - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=122164&page=3

12-15-2006, 01:06 PM	#6
Lightning Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: WI Posts: 25	Re: AD Door Lock-Driver Side? in my 48 there is nothing to lock the drivers door.... __________________ 1948 Chevy 3/4

12-15-2006, 01:15 PM	#7
Hart_Rod ************* Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pensacola, FL Posts: 17,858	Re: AD Door Lock-Driver Side? Pull the handle backwards. That's how you lock both doors from the inside. R __________________ Rob - https://www.instagram.com/hart_rod_c10 As Iron Sharpens Iron, So One Man Sharpens Another. Proverbs 27:17 FOR SALE: DBW pedal bracket - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=651123 FOR SALE: Hood Brackets http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=679945 1987 Silverado SWB - 34.5K original miles http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=801834 1969 SuperBurb - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=200387 1968 Farm truck - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=358692 1968 SWB - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=551258 1948 Chevy - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=122164&page=3

12-15-2006, 08:56 PM	#8
solidaxel Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Cactus Patch So. Az Posts: 4,749	Re: AD Door Lock-Driver Side? I just swaped the handels from side to side. Why cant you just put two pas. side door handles L&R with locks. They all come apart! I just reread your post, never mind your handles are different on a 51 !!!! __________________ 53 TuTone Extended Cab 350 4-Spd 3:08 (SOLD) 53 Chevy Moldy pearl green ZZ-4 4L60E 9" 3:25 55 GMC 1st Black Mll (ZZ4) ZZ6 TKO 600 5 sp 3:73 62 Solidaxle Corvette Roman Red (327 340hp 4spd 3:36) C4 & C5 suspension tube chassis LS 3 4L70E 65 Corvette Coupe 327 350hp 4spd 4:11 78 Black Silverado SWB (350/350) 5.3 & 4L60E 3:42 2000 S-Type 3.0 (wife cruiser) 2003 GMC SCSB 5.3 4L60E 3:42

12-17-2006, 02:45 AM	#9
Fred T Cantankerous Geezer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Bel Aire, KS Posts: 6,264	Re: AD Door Lock-Driver Side? Reasoning behind the passenger side lock was twofold. First was economy, so GM only put a keyed lock on one side. Second was that when you parallel parked, the law said you could not exit the vehicle into a lane of traffic, so the lock needed to be on the passenger side. When these trucks were built most owners didn't lock them unless they were in a big city. In rural america the keys were left in the ignition, too. __________________ Fred There is no such thing as too much cam...just not enough engine.

12-17-2006, 10:33 PM	#10
dwcsr Hollister Road Co. Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Houston Posts: 6,131	Re: AD Door Lock-Driver Side? Thats about what I have heard about exiting into traffic. It was common place to exit curb side in that time. You had the room to do it in older cars so it was faster to get in and out on that side.



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