The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Door Handles

Which side does the door handle with the lock get installed or does it matter? :confused:

In the 1941 Chevrolet, the handle with the key lock in it is on the passenger side.. in later years the key lock was moved to below the handle.

The AD trucks i've seen usually only have a key lock on the passenger side.. not sure when they started putting it on both sides.

56 has the handle with door lock also on passenger side. Key lock is built into the handle. Drivers side had no outside lock mechanism.

I bought two new handles that are keyed-alike and now have locks on both doors.

Thanks for the info
since i reinstalled the handle with lock to the drivers side the lock does not work from the outside
origianlly i believe the lock was on the passenger side

blue 57, the lock dont care which side it is on.

Just curious, any idea why chevy put the lock on the passenger side? It would seem to be more convient on the driver side.

Dare I say it? Old Ford truck were the same way. I have a 49 ford (forgive me but in my defense I also have have three old chevy trucks) and the key is on the passenger side. The explanation that I have heard is that you were supposed to slide across the bench seat and get out and lock the passenger side. This prevented you from exiting the vehicle on the traffic side. I suppose it also allowed you to unlock and open the passenger door for your gal and let her in like the gentlemen we all are.

Don't know that I believe it but it sounds as good as any story of heard. In the case of the Ford, the truth is probably that they were to cheap to put a lock on both sides. I doubt that Chevys motives were any more admireable.

pickemup - you might find a few possibilities in this thread if you sift out the relevent bits

the question has been beat to death a few times here

Bill

on my 52 the key lock is on the driver door, the passenger door is locked from inside,,,,,,,,

Yeah, the question has been brought up and beat up but it's never been resolved. Maybe it'll remain one of those great mysteries and every now and then someone will ask the question again. Life is a continum... including door locks... or lack thereof.

My 53 5 window has locks on both doors keyed alike. It was that way when I bought it 18 years ago.

My main question was can the lock work on either side,seems more convienient on the drivers
Thanks fredtruckparts but since i moved the lock to the drivers side it does not work so.... i need to keep digging,maybe i reassembled wrong
first i will try to move lock to passenger side just to see if that works

Did you move just the handle, or the whole regulator? My 49 came with 2 right-hand door regs, and the left door won't lock. The inner handle will stay in the unlatched position, though.

Blue57, when I bought the new locks for my 56 there were no instructions (isn't that always the way!) and they work fine. Of course, one side is upside down from the other so maybe there is a R & L... I dunno.

Speaking of locks, fellow Stovebolters, is there a source, or does anyone know where I can get new door handles for my 37 pick up. Passenger side has key lock in handle, driver side has no lock.

Any help is appreciated.

Joe

Joe - try Chevs of the 40\'s or the Filling Station , both cover the older trucks

Bill