Call me crazy, but I learned something today. Thought I would share it with y'all. As I drove down the road, my doors would rattle pretty bad. I just chocked it up to its just an old truck.well finally, I bought new latches and striker plates. Still rattled. well I adjusted them until I gave up. The door closed ok, but it rattled as I drove down the road. I continued to adjust the to no avail. I the broke out the grinder and widened the bolt slots in the strikers. I continued to move the striker in and further in. Well today, I drove to an old body shop in town where the only worker is 71 years young. He has a yard full of vintage cars/ trucks and works 7 days a week because he loves it. I explained my problem to him and he walked out to take a look. He said those doors are not supposed to rattle. Well, he opened the doors and tripped the latch. Then he continued to push the latch until it tripped again. " what", I didnt know it had two positions. I said wow, I didn't know it tripped twice. He looked at me and said you have your striker adjusted in to far. He explained that the first catch position was a " dead mans latch" to keep the door from flying open. He said the next position was actually the latched closed position. He then went into his shop and returned with a clutch head screwdriver. I knew then that I was at the right place. He adjusted the striker out and shut the door. It caught on the second trip of the latch. The first time I guess that it has ever. Well, he wasn't satisfied. He adjusted it again and holy cow. The door shut all the way, flush with the body. And no rattle. I was amazed. Well a quick trip to adjust the other side, and I was fixed up. Maybe 15 minutes total. As I thanked him and offered to pay, he stated help someone else out just as I've helped you. I enjoy seeing these trucks on the road. Keep up with the maintenance and you will enjoy this thing for a lifetime. I know this story is long, but maybe some of you will take the time to read it and learn as I did to adjust the doors on your advance design truck. Did I mention that I love my 54.
Good post! While I am aware of the two catches in the latches, I wonder how many folks have been stumped like you were, and no one in here (me included) never thought of pointing that out when trying to help them get it right. Carl
1952 5-window - return to "as built" condition | 1950 3100 with a 235 and a T-5 transmission
As I push the door of my '50 in slowly, about an inch from being closed it clicks and is latched but loose. Then a solid push in flush with the body it clicks in again and is shut solid. Is that what you're talking about??? I thought that's the way all of them were, at least all of them that I've run into over the past 57 years since I've been driving my own cars. Even the new cars are made that way, go on out to the drive and try it on you new car or truck.
