[horvath]

I just installed new door latches and strikers on my truck. Getting the doors to close nicely was a whole lot trickier than I thought! Anyway, after getting some help from the right people, I learned a WHOLE LOT and got my doors closing real nice ... and thought I'd post a link to my photo-tutorial in case anyone is attempting to do this job and needs help:
Click Here to See!

Alan
54 Chevy Pickup

[Centerline]

Personally I prefer the bear-claw style latches since they tend to be safer and won't come open as easily in an accident. Your tutorial however, should be very helpful to anyone who is keeping their original strikers.

Good job.

Centerline
http://www.hotrodsandhemis.com

[zonk]

Way to go Alan you've come along way on your truck

[horvath]

Thanks, Zonk. I sure am enjoying it.


Hey, Centerline -- fill me in. What's the difference between the latches I bought and bear claws? Can I get bear claws for my truck?

Alan
54 Chevy Pickup

[Centerline]

Bear claw latches aren't specifically designed for any particular vehicle. They are designed similar to today's modern latches and offer a positive latch that won't generally come open during a roll over accident. Here's a link to Julianos catalog so you can see what I'm talking about. Bear Claw Latches

The pin mounts to the "B" pillar and the latch mechanism in the door. When it closes the latch has two metal claws that positively lock around the pin. The only way it can come apart is for the pin to be ripped from the "B" pillar.

With the stock latches of that era if the body flexes much during an accident the latch itself can pull away from the striker allowing the door to open. The old design isn't necessarily dangerous, its just that newer designs add a little extra safety to the equation.

Centerline

[horvath]

Thanks, Centerline

I emailed them with some questions ... if they get back to me with anything worth noting, I'll post here.

Alan
54 Chevy Pickup

[horvath]

Here's their reply:

"YES THEY WILL HOLD YOUR DOOR FIRMLY BUT WILL REQUIRE MUCH WELDING AND FABRICATION TO INSTALL. ALSO THEY ARE NOT EASY TO HOOK-UP TO OUT SIDE HANDLES. MOST EVERYONE THAT USES THESE GOES WITH A SHAVED DOOR HANDLE KIT."

Guess I'll stick with what I've got. I don't plan on rolling my truck anyway.

Alan
54 Chevy Pickup

[Centerline]

Like I said, nothing unsafe about the stock latches and strikers.

Bear claws aren't all that hard to hook up to outside latches. All it takes is a piece of cable but to install them so they look nice and appear like they belong there does take some welding. For your purposes what you have done makes perfect sense and I would probably have done the same thing.

On mine, since it wasn't painted and I was replacing so much metal I just went ahead and installed latches from an '85 Toyota Celica that I picked up at a local wrecking yard. Mated them to Mazda Miata door handles (picked up on E-bay) and it worked out very nicely. All done before paint which made it a whole lot easier. The doors and "B" pillar did require some metal work to do this installation and I could have saved myself some time by using the aftermarket bear claw latches (which would have been easier to install) but I am pleased with how it turned out. If I think of it tonight I'll take some pics of the door jam and latch and stick them on this thread.

Centerline