What size Bear Claws?

[Mac the Yankee]

I'm trying to get some ideas together for the summer projects on my '56 and one thing I'd like to do is add bear claw latches to the doors (non-electric).

Question is, what size should I use- small, reg, or large?

Thanks, Bill

[klutz51]

I am using large, why skimp and have to do it twice.

[Mac the Yankee]

How well do they fit? I'd like to do as little cutting of the door panel covers as possible!

[Dan in Pasadena]

Buy these:

http://www.triquemfg.com/Altman-Easy...ck-p/ael05.htm

Not cheap but MADE for our TF trucks and require the minimum cutting and no fabrication (no "make it work")

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by Mac the Yankee

How well do they fit? I'd like to do as little cutting of the door panel covers as possible!

I have the large ones also and they work great. I installed mine in reverse for my own reasons. I like them, as you can see they are the double claw kind.



Sorry Dan but there is no way I would pay over 350 bucks for those latches. I know a lot of people would but that is money I can spend somewhere else

[Dan in Pasadena]

Don't have to be sorry to me. We all work within our real or perceived abilities. I saved a little longer so I'd hopefully have no regrets after spending $50 AND the time to TRY to make them work like I knew these WOULD work.

It's all good. We each do things our own way. As long as mine pleases me and yours pleases you!

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Don't have to be sorry to me. We all work within our real or perceived abilities. I saved a little longer so I'd hopefully have no regrets after spending $50 AND the time to TRY to make them work like I knew these WOULD work.

It's all good. We each do things our own way. As long as mine pleases me and yours pleases you!

Its pretty easy to install bear claw latches. I remember when we use to just head to the junk yard and cut latches out of cars and installed them in our cars and trucks. The 50 bucks is just worth it for me not to go to the yard that is the only reason I spent the 50 bucks. The work does not bother me its saving my money that pleases me.lol But of course you are correct its your money but that is why I said there is no way I would.

I meant no offense but the sticker price was very shocking to me, and if you took offense than I do apologize for having foot in mouth disease. I did not know you bought them, I don't come here to offend anyone.

[Mac the Yankee]

I'd love to do the Trique kit, but the teacher's salary keeps the budget pretty tight

I agree with the "bigger/better" idea when it comes to safety- just want to make sure that the large ones will fit...

Kabwe, where did you get your latches?

[Kabwe]

http://www.autoloc.com/catalog/Bear-...Door-Latch-Set

They are 45 bucks. If you are installing them it will make it much easier if you also buy the installation kit. You don't need to but it would make life installation a breeze.

[Kabwe]

Check this out I see the on amazon for 38 bucks
Amazon.com: AutoLoc BCLG Large Locking Bear Claw...

[Kabwe]

Also check this out man its show what to hook up bear claws latches and door handles. Gives you some ideas. It also shows you the install.

http://www.rodandcustommagazine.com/.../photo_15.html
http://www.chuckthetruck.com/page23.html

[_Ogre]

as your thinking about your old worn out stock latches that take 3 slams to latch or unlatch going down the road
one thing to consider is stock repops, that's what i have on truk
work great, bolt in, no welding or fabrication (and you all know i like to fabricate )

[Donaldo]

What latches are available for '51 (AD) trucks ?

[Mac the Yankee]

Ogre,

I have thought about getting repops, but really want the safety of the claws, especially when Mrs. Yankee or any of the little Yanks are in the truck

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

as your thinking about your old worn out stock latches that take 3 slams to latch or unlatch going down the road
one thing to consider is stock repops, that's what i have on truk
work great, bolt in, no welding or fabrication (and you all know i like to fabricate )

Yeah a buddy of mine went that route and he said he likes them fine. Well after his wife almost fell out the door when the original were worn out. He installed the stocked new ones and said they work just fine.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by Kabwe

...I meant no offense but the sticker price was very shocking to me, and if you took offense then I do apologize for having foot in mouth disease. I did not know you bought them, I don't come here to offend anyone.

Bam,
I'm definitely NOT offended and never thought you were trying to offend me. We are cool, always.

You're a very talented guy and it seems not all that intimidated by something you've not done before- for example changing out the roof on your cab - something I need to do but am afraid of EFFING UP my cab in the process.

I "get" being that way and I'm even much like that as far as being willing to try almost anything - when it comes to construction, but NOT so when it comes to metal fabrication. I was always a "wood guy" not a "metal guy" as a kid.

In recent years I've bought a couple grinders and a small but good mig machine, gas, etc. But I admit I'm still not very "good" at it. I held off buying the Trique kit a long time for the same money reason then finally just thought, "You're never gonna "get around" to buying generic latches and figuring out how to modify your doors, just bite the bullet and buy a kit that fits." So I did and I'm happy. Sure, I'd rather have another 300 clams in my pocket but in the mean time I'd be having my doors open spontaneously at every other corner.

[TNACUSTOM]

Originally Posted by Donaldo

What latches are available for '51 (AD) trucks ?

Trique sells a kit for the AD that uses the stock outside handle and is a bolt in kit or it can be weld in. It not cheap but don't know of another kit that uses the stock outside handle. If some knows respond.

[klutz51]

I bought mine from Amazon and the install kits from Ebay, only spent $60 total and I am happy with the quality.

[youngrodder]

My experience installing them in an AD was the smaller the better if you are placing the latch in the door due to the window vertical track running right through that area. If you mount them like Kabwe in the back corner of the cab then the size won’t matter.

I used the small on my truck and had to modify the window track to not interfere with the latch.

I just used a kit from EBay. It was cheap and it was my first time doing such a thing and like anything else just read up on it before trying it. Not too bad of a job.

Marc

[Speedbumpauto]

" If you mount them like Kabwe in the back corner of the cab then the size won’t matter."

Size ALWAYS matters.

[FarmerSid]

Hey Bam. You mentioned a ways back that people used to cut out latches from junk yard vehicles. Why don't people do that anymore? I have a 4 door Buick roadmaster that I could salvage the latches out of. Mind learning me on latches?

Thanks!

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by FarmerSid

Hey Bam. You mentioned a ways back that people used to cut out latches from junk yard vehicles. Why don't people do that anymore? I have a 4 door Buick roadmaster that I could salvage the latches out of. Mind learning me on latches?

Thanks!

The reason why people don't do it anymore is because its much easier to buy them them to go to the yard look for a car and cut them out. People rather just buy them now.

We use to cut them sheetmetal and take the latches out and you the donor sheetmetal as you would the installation kit. Weld them in on our trucks or cars.

[FarmerSid]

Thanks Bam. One of the reasons I ask is, a buddy of my neighbor builds hot rods, dropped of a set of bear claw latches that he isn't going to use and wanted to know if I was interested. He likes using latches out of mid 90's honda civics. He had one of them on him too. He likes them better as they are much quieter and latch better. That's his story anyway. The latches he likes to use are the same style as in my roadmaster. I just question how to hook them up to the door handle inside and out on my 51 doors.

[thunderjet]

I used latches from Hotrodlatches.com. the large set with install plates was $52 plus shipping. He is a USA guy and uses Trimark latches. Nice and stout. I installed them backwards with the pin in the door.

[FarmerSid]

Thanks for the info thunderjet.