Please Help with My Door Problem

[jason999]

Hello,

So I'm deep in my project truck and I have been making huge strides with help from this site. I have searched lots of things and gotten great information.

I have been completely lost on how to deal with my doors. While looking at old threads, I found that my striker plates was adjusted wrong. It was too close to the body and only the first latch was catching! I fixed 90% of my passenger side door problem in 5 minutes, thanks to someones post! Needless to say, Im happy!

The problem is that the drivers side door. The previous owner obviously didn't read the forum. A bear claw type latch was added, but its not lined up correctly and the door still sticks out.

I need to decide what to do from here? Buy a striker for the drivers side and use the old latch system, or adjust the rusty bear claw.

Please note that the metal on the door is slightly torn at the lower left screw hole. Also, the Bear claw part that is installed in the door jam has no adjustment. I am guessing I would need to mount it to a plate to allow adjustment. The door stands out far at the moment with the poorly adjusted bear claw. I'm going to try to post pictures below.

Thanks!

[Lugnutz65]

Pictures will help. I'd say go back to the original latch system. New parts are available from vendors.

[sanford66]

I agree, I would go back to the original latch setup. When adjusted right they work perfect. That is one of my favorite things about the 60-66 trucks, the way the doors sound when they shut, nice and solid, like an old refrigerator. I know, sounds silly. I can shut both doors on my daily driver 66 with one finger, it just takes some time and patience to adjust them. Good luck. Joseph

[jason999]

I know... This is a worthless thread without pictures.

I tried to post pics but mine were to large. The bear claw looks almost like the Altmans that are available, but they may be an older version. The more I look at it, I am thinking that I will get a striker plate and try the old system first.

I pulled the inner panel off of the door today and everything looks to be in place for the old system.

I think I will just remove the latch post from the door jam that the new latch attaches to. Then, I can put a striker plate on and see how it works.

[BR3W CITY]

Its not uncommon for people to think there doors are mal-adjusted after doing a weatherstrip job or a re-hanging. If you do go back to the older system (which I like), just keep this in mind if you do any of that sort of work.

Pics would help also. They didn't cut the door to run the bearclaw did they?