The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Doors 41-46 Inside door "Latch Link"

I bought new "latch links" from Jim Carter but they're way too long, almost double the length. That's the only option they have for 41-46 (the earlier ones are shaped different so that's out). Has anyone else bought these that worked from another vendor? I think my only options are to shorten the new ones they sent me, use my old ones, or find another vendor. I'm not sure another vendor would have the right ones.

This is the flat link inside the door that pulls the latch open when you turn the door handle.

Most of the metal reproduction parts I have bought from various vendors often appear to be fabricated from the same shop. I have gotten some items that even had a competitors stock numbers on them. Case in point, several months ago I looked for door stays and none of the vendors had them in stock. Recently I got a call from a vendor indicating that the part is back in stock, and now all of the retailers have them.


I would call to get them to measure for you before "shooting in the dark" I have an original link or two that I could provide measurements for you if yours are too far gone to be used as templates.

No I have the original links, but mine are about 6-7" long, and the reproductions are 11-1/2" long. It's not a complete loss as I could cut them shorter and make another slot to make new ones from these. I just figured they were available and I was changing some other door parts so I would buy them, since the slots in mine are worn so they're not just slots. I saw another used one on ebay the same 11-1/2" length. I wonder if this is another Canadian truck thing? My door handle is pretty far back on the door, but I don't see how anything could be moved so that an 11-1/2" long link would ever fit ...

I figured out that my door handle and window crank are in a different location. This is very weird.

This is a bad pic but the best one I have of mine at the moment, look at the placement of the handles. The rear one is the door handle and front is the window crank: My 46 Handle Placement

These pic I stole from Gene (GWWirth) of his 46, where you can clearly see the handles are much farther forward. The rear handle still seems to be the door latch and the front for the window. Since I got parts from Chevy's as well, this must be a Canadian VS American truck thing. Very weird. GWWirth Handle Placement 1 GWWirth Handle Placement 2

my 46 GMC [US built] had the window crank far forward like Genes - try looking in the gallery for interior pix of 41-46, it could be different years

Bill

Thanks! Mine's a Canadian built '46 GMC, so that must be the difference.

I looked at the gallery as you suggested and for the American trucks the window crank is far forward and the door handle is in the middle of the door. Canadian trucks have them farther back. I wish I knew the reason for that but I'm sure we'll never know.

GM USA realized they made them too far back for accessibility/comfort and decided to redesign the system and send the pre revision A parts to Canada. Your idea of modifying the ones you bought, seems to me to be good. You can also remove middle section and weld back to keep the factory made slot.

Except that the rear location actually seems more ergonomic

was editing just now re: mod.

More ergonomic? If your arms are on backwards?
If the seats slide, it would make ergonomic sense to have them forward for short leggers. Long leggers have long arms.

Yep, seems more ergonomic to me. Since I have one with the more rearward handles you might have to believe me.

Well the solution to the longer links I purchased was that I had our machinist at work mill shorten them up on the mill, and the door handles operate much more smoothly with the new unworn links.