The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Door strikers

I have a 1949 Chevy 1/2 ton. I bought it and it was so-so redone. I have never been able to get the doors to shut and have a decent gap. Also have to shut them really hard. Could it be possible that I have the wrong door latch / strikers on these doors? I've tried every way to adjust the hinges
but still no luck. I need some advise. As always, thanks so much. Steven

I've also tried to adjust the strikers and latches. Nothing seems to work.

I have the same problem with my '49. I believe my door latches are reproductions installed, by the PO. There's been a lot of discussion about how there's nothing like the originals, but I'm still hopeful for a solution too.

Greg

Since you have a Photobucket account, put some pictures of the strikers and the part of the latch you can see in the door on the account and link them here. Those of us with that era ('47-'51)of door parts should be able to tell if they are correct. Then we can go from there.
Kent

Take a look at this link and see if it will help you...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/sets/72157641244124604/
Kent

Red 49 Truck,

Lightholder's Dad is correct. Pics would be a big plus to get started on the proper door latches and strikers. For what it's worth, I too have a late '49 3100 that I had the same problem with. I purchased aftermarket latches and strikers and had little to NO success. The latches were poor quality and I ended up returning them. I purchased two sets of strikers from two different vendors and after careful measuring of the riser for the safety catch I found that the aftermarket strikers were 1/8" higher than the original worn strikers I removed. Long story....short, I ended up buying a set of NOS door latches and NOS strikers. Lined everything up, adjusted the door gap on both doors with the hinge adjustments to specification from the 1948-1953 Chevrolet shop manual and the door close perfectly! Original GM parts do make a difference along with a lot of patience. Finding these NOS parts are difficult, but E-Bay, swap meets, and some parts dealers on the internet who have purchased old Chevrolet dealership parts inventory would be you best bet for these door latches and strikers. You could also post an ad in the "parts wanted" section of the Stovebolt forum and someone might have them.

Tim

I have not bought these yet but they are on my radar for sure....I wont drive Howard Knapp until these are on the both doors...

http://www.triquemfg.com/altman-easy-latch-kits/

(page 1 all the way to bottom)

It may not be for a perfect restoration but it will give a safe ride in that the doors will stay shut...I have heard nothing but rave reviews from all the folks that have put them in...this the bar that everybody else is gauged by.

my smelly old 2 cents...

MikeC

I have totally disassembled 4 latches, welded on metal where metal has been worn away and put them back together. I used a TIG welder. Usually the passenger side latches will be in better shape to give you a good idea what metal needs to be built up. Two of the latches where in very bad shape, but were restored to fully functional.
Carl

I'm with you on that Mike,although I have been driving mine.
I just need to scrape up some cash but these are high on my 'to-do' list.

It's the one thing that grates/embarrasses me is slamming the doors when I get to a show,it does get peoples attention though!

In fact the very day I picked up my truck when I bought it the passenger door flew open on the freeway.
(It was on a trailer thankfully)

The reason why we have so many problems with original latches has little to do with the design of the latch.
It has everything to do with the fact that the latches have been hammered into unworkable condition due to 50+ years of slamming into the strikers due to worn hinges from lack of routine lubrication of the hinge pins.
The same would eventually occur to any kind of latch which you choose to install, if the hinges are not maintained.
Carl

Thanks for all the good tips. I will try to get some pictures of my strikes and latches. My doors shut and stay shut but like it was said above I have to slam them. Not good. Thanks again for all the tips. Steven

you know, 52Carl, I believe you hit the nail on the head. How many of us now lub our latches and hinges? I do but probably not enough. Great food for thought. Thanks for the reminder. Steven

Body Lubrication: "Many service stations [and owners] do not consider body lubrication as part of a normal lubrication job; therefore, body lubrication is often neglected."

tsk, tsk, . .

Print out and post in your garage.

You guys beat me to it. I can't tell you how many mis-aligned hoods with "bad" hinges and bad closing doors I "fixed" with white lithium grease back when I was a body man.

that has got to be the best and most thorough piece for fixing these trucks i have ever seen. do you have any more links to any/all of this quality for these trucks?