Charles,
lol you just think you're finished with the cab. The slowest progress I've had is finishing the cab. I don't know what options you'll be having in your cab (radio, air, new steering column, vibration dampening, seat, new wiring, rebuilding vent window,new door handles and latches and any other possible upgrades) but you might think about finishing up when the next president is campaigning for reelection.
Speaking of extended time table for finishing, I ordered new door latches to go with my new door handles from American Classic up in Denton. I don't normally order there unless they have something no one else has. They are in Texas and I don't want to pay state sales tax which can add up on an order. Anyway the shipment came in yesterday containing only the right side latch. It was late so instead of calling I emailed asking what's the deal. Last night I was inspecting the right hand latch and it seemed unusually tight. It was in the locked position and I could not release it. Moreover I couldn't fit the door handle into it either. I just figured I needed more time to check it out. Then this AM I got a email saying:

Mr. Dunkin,
You were notified on your invoice in two places: in the comments in the middle just under the address at the top of the invoice and that you were not charged for the left latch since it showed $0.00 at the right hand column.
As of yesterday, the left door latch is not available from any supplier. We have been trying for several months to get in the part but to no avail.


We will keep your part on backorder and ship it as soon as we get it into the warehouse.

Thank you for your order,

American Classic


...like, you idiot, can't you read? I can read and would have read the invoice had there been one in the box. Even so, there was no attempt to inform me that they back-ordered the part and would ship when available.

This morning I called Classic Parts (Chevy Duty) and hoping to order the left side latch. I got some interesting information. They aare not selling door latches for 47/51 ADs. They said they had sent all their inventory back to the vendor (China) because they were all defective. I asked in what way were they defective and was told they were too tight and were locked up. I will check with American Classic on this point but right now I think they new the problem with the latches and thought they could send me one and hope it would stick. Also Classic Parts told me it would be no sooner than 6 weeks, and perhaps longer, before the new handles would come in. More to come...


~Jim