Door latches? Altman or stock?

[jaws61]

Hi Guys
I"m curious if its worth the money to buy the altman latches or just run the stock door latches, I"ve yet to paint the truck so what everyones opinion.. Its going on a 56 TF..
Thanks

[dwcsr]

Altman is a very good latch it does have a draw back of no locking mechanism with a key. on 1950 down

52 - 59 with the push button handles outside you use the button lock.
47-51 its a must to replace the latches because just hitting a bump in the road can open the door on turn down handles 52 to 59 not so much

[capnduane]

When I redid my 55 TF, 3 years ago, I replaced the drivers side door lock mechanism with a repro part. The original was worn out. The passenger side, I adjusted the latch plate, and they both have been golden ever since. When I first got the truck, the doors were held closed with a couple of barrel bolts!!!??? Yup, Bubba in action.....

[ndeep]

only one choice if you want your doors to shut like a modern car--altman

[Dan in Pasadena]

Others will chime in and say stock latches work fine if they're replaced with new. That said, I'm old enough to remember older cars doors opening on turns and spilling groceries and dogs - fortunately never kids but I imagine that must have happened too.

I installed Altman in my '55.2

[BIGglaSS]

My originals are worn out, I was researching this last week. Here's what I found. Altman are bolt in, but you will still have to cut sheet metal. $350.

Others, like http://www.hotrodlatches.com/default.asp or Autoloc are a simple bear claw. You will have to do the engineering, cutting, and welding to make it work. $50.

I was telling my Dad about this dilemma. Saturday, he shows up with a set of autoloc bear claws that he isn't going to use. I guess that is the direction I'm going.

[MARTINSR]

Originally Posted by dwcsr

Altman is a very good latch it does have a draw back of no locking mechanism with a key. on 1950 down

52 - 59 with the push button handles outside you use the button lock.
47-51 its a must to replace the latches because just hitting a bump in the road can open the door on turn down handles 52 to 59 not so much

Or get NOS, I have NOS latches and handles, bought off Ebay.

Brian

[b-mac]

Martin,

Can we get a link? I'm having trouble finding them.

[MARTINSR]

I didn't find some just now, I am saying I have a pair of NOS latches and handles I bought for my 48 on eBay. I then bought a pair more of 53ish because I am thinking about changing them.

Point being they ARE there....but not every day. I did just find this one for the later suburban. http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-55-56-57...BYa8EH&vxp=mtr

Here are NOS strikers for your truck.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-1952-196...VYn1ld&vxp=mtr

Here is a Right latch. http://www.ebay.com/itm/1955-1959-Ch...pYuDOX&vxp=mtr

Here is how I find stuff I want on ebay. I make a search with a pretty liberal search words. 1956 Chevy truck door For instance, I do this in "advanced search" go to the bottom of the page to "Sort By" and put it on "TIME: Newly listed" this way I see what was the latest listed, going back to oldest. I check this every morning and find stuff EVERY TIME in a few days or weeks that has a good buy it now price or something and I get it. I will have a crap load of these searches saved to my favorites with all the different years, calling it a truck or a pickup, that sort of thing, I look at them all every morning, in only takes a few seconds being they are the newest listed and you saw the older ones yesterday.

I have found CRAP LOADS of stuff that way, NOS distributor, NOS Corvette 235 Intake, NOS latches, mouldings, headlamp rings, lights, Steering wheel, horn button, brake parts, etc. there is a lot of stuff out there!


Brian

[MARTINSR]

Here are a pair of NOS latches. They aren't cheap, but these aren't the ones I would buy with my "Check ever day newest listed" method. I would get these for a fraction of this when someone lists them wrong.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1955-56-57-5...pXjpuJ&vxp=mtr

Here is another right one for ten dollars less than the one I previously posted.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-1955-195...ZYmKma&vxp=mtr

Brian

[_Ogre]

i've had repops on my 58 truk for 6 yrs and 30,000 miles they work fine
i have also driven these trucks since the 70s and have had worn out latches pop open
new reproductions is what i recommend, just replace them every 60,000 miles

dang... truk is half way there

[Russell Ashley]

I have re-pop latches and striker plates on my truck and the doors close and latch great. Adjusting the latches and striker plates before installing the rubber door seal makes getting the doors adjusted much easier.

[bajabob]

Originally Posted by MARTINSR

Or get NOS, I have NOS latches and handles, bought off Ebay.

Brian

Yea what he said

I have a bunch of repo crap I'll sell you cheap, cheap cheap!!!!

[Khaus]

https://lsfab.ca/product/1947-1951-c...-door-latches/

https://lsfab.ca/product/1952-1954-c...-door-latches/

[mr48chev]

My wife still has the scars on her face and knees from falling out of our 48 42 years ago when the not all that worn 5 year old bought from the GM Dealer in McGregor TX genuine GM latche failed. I bought and installed them in May of 73 and it failed (passenger door) in the fall of 78. Both latch and striker had been replaced in73.

The driver's door flew open on me about the third day I had the truck when I was making a right hand corner two blocks from my house in Texas and I went straight to the dealer and bought new latches. I had one arm hooked on the window sill, one hand on the wheel and my right foot hooked around the brake pedal. Just luckily no one was parked at the soft ball field and no kids were out there.

Altman's latches aren't cheap but that is well spent money.

[57tailgater]

My lower hinge pockets aren't so good and will eventually be fixed. Way back when I was making a right turn the driver's door flew open - woah!! Never had the passenger door fly open. Started looking at it and noticed someone had changed the driver's door striker to one of a different model which probably explains the sudden opening and latch wear. But the part on the door latch has worn due to this. I have some bearclaws I am potentially planning on using when I get to that point.

[jackson]

has anyone that has boxed his frame still have issues with doors opening ive noticed the old trucks seem to twist a little

[carbuff382]

I've got a TCI fully boxed frame with stock door latches and haven't had any issues. And hopefully won't!

[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by jackson

has anyone that has boxed his frame still have issues with doors opening ive noticed the old trucks seem to twist a little

you have a 49, the later trucks have double detent latch door latches
truk has a boxed frame and new repop latches, the doors have never inadvertently unlatched

[rollinrooster]

Im running the Altman. Heard to many stories from everyone in my circle about the doors flying open. Altman is well worth the money and my doors open and close now better than my 2018 2500HD.

[mick53]

I always just warned the ladies so they would scoot over next to me.

[jocww]

Would these latches work with tesla door handles? Thats my next mod I think.