Putting pre '50 doors on a '54

[Hogger54]

I want to have the single pane windows, and am wondering if it might be easier to just swap out the whole door.
I see the striker plates and latches are different, but the hinges look to be the same. Anyone done this? Were the latches the only issue?

[MARTINSR]

They actually had some '51's with the swing handle doors. So to do this they had an "adapter" striker. You see the cab is actually different where it bolts, so you can't bolt the early striker in the '51 and up cab.

I found this accidentally when I bought some parts off a swing handled '51 many years ago. It worked out well because I had a 53 cab with early doors that didn't work worth a crap.

The one on the left is a 47-50, the one in the middle is a '51 "adapter" and the one on the right is a 51-54 (first series 55) with push button handles.

I am a long way from having my truck on the road so I can't sell the stuff I have but I am planning on not running the swing handles as my truck is a 53ish theme. I have NOS latche and handles for the 47-51. Got them on ebay and still see them there once in a while. I say do ANYTHING before buying repro.



Brian

[Hogger54]

Could I swap the latches from my '54 doors to the earlier doors, or are the guts different?

Edit: After looking at some catalogs, it doesn't look like the latches will swap. Different number, and placement of mounting screws. Plus I'm sure there are some differences between the swing arm, and push button handle.
Although that "adapter" striker plate looks like someone just notched it out. Looks like it could work.

[MARTINSR]

Originally Posted by Hogger54

Could I swap the latches from my '54 doors to the earlier doors, or are the guts different?

Edit: After looking at some catalogs, it doesn't look like the latches will swap. Different number, and placement of mounting screws. Plus I'm sure there are some differences between the swing arm, and push button handle.
Although that "adapter" striker plate looks like someone just notched it out. Looks like it could work.

Also notice the riveted on piece, it's taller there.

It's not that big of a deal, if you want the swing handles just make strikers that work, if you want the push button handles just make the latches work in the doors. I am going to probably be putting passenger car latches in the doors as I have found a pair of NOS ones. (I like NOS )

Or of course go more modern and use the VW ones like I posted in another thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=630759

Brian

[Donaldo]

My '51 has latches like the one on the left.

[Katrina/10]

Mine too, never saw the one in the middle before.

[MARTINSR]

I'm sorry, it must be '52 that had both swing handles and push buttons. Your '51's has swing handles then?

I forgot, the '51 is the first year for the wing windows. The '52 had wing windows and either a swing handle or push button. Unless these strikers I got were for if you had to put the early doors on the later cab and they were sold aftermarket? I am pretty sure they came with both swing and push button. http://classictrucks.net/chevy-truck...ly-1955-chevy/

Brian

[Donaldo]

""Your '51's has swing handles then?""

Yes.

[mr48chev]

I went out and looked at my cabs that have stock strikers on them and they are all the same as Martinsr's exibit A.

One of the first AD truck repairs I ever did was help my grandfather swap the driver's door and push out the roof of his 48 1 ton after he rolled it two miles from the house. He never admitted to having a snort or two before that but ended up with a banged up shoulder. He had picked up a door off a 52/53 in a local wrecking yard and after we got it all mounted we had to go back to the wrecking yard and get the striker. That thing went a lot more years with one vent wing door and one single piece window door and I may still have both doors out in my stash as I put a five window cab on the truck for my brother about 30 years ago.

This on my 51 1-1/2 ton


This is the passenger side striker on my 49/50 donor cab

Someone stole the strikers off the 53 cab years ago so there isn't anything to tell there.

I'm still thinking you can swap doors, put the striker that matches the door on and be good to go.

There may be some differences between trucks built in one plant as apposed to trucks built in another plant due to what the suppliers produced

[Sssingo]

Okay so heres the question with the strikers (pictured on the post above) how do you adjust the door shut and the striker end? These strikers move up and down but not in and out right?

[MARTINSR]

Originally Posted by Sssingo

Okay so heres the question with the strikers (pictured on the post above) how do you adjust the door shut and the striker end? These strikers move up and down but not in and out right?

I'll have to go home and look, I forget how but I believe they are on a "caged nut" that moves in and out. The up and down is with the slots on the striker.


Brian