The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Question on Door Handles

My 66 C-60 has a lock in the push button on the driver side but not on passenger side. Did the trucks ship from the factory like this?

Yes, as far as I know all the trucks back then were that way. It's possible you could order a passenger side with a lock, but I've never heard of one.

Bill

Normally the lock is on the passenger side. It used to be a Law in some States, back in the day, that you couldn't enter a vehicle on the traffic side of a parked vehicle on the Streets. I've always swapped them around on my trucks. A previous owner, probably swapped yours around.

Spanky, If that's true with '60 to '66 trucks than just about 100% of the owners switched them around. I still am a big fan, but I was just about soley a '60 to '66 fan from '71 to '00 and I can never remember one on the passenger side and not on the drivers side.

Bill

Bill, You'll note, I said normally. Guess it could depend on where the truck was delivered when new. All of the '47-'54 trucks I've owned had the passenger side lock only. The three '55-'59 Chevy LCF's I had were passenger side lock. The '60 LCF had the passenger side lock, but the '64, & two '65's I had, had locks in both doors. I'm guessing these laws eased up as the years passed. Ever notice on early Andy Griffith Shows, & alot of old movies how everyone seems to get in the cars on the passenger side.

Spanky, It's funny that you have mentioned The Andy Griffith Show. That's the first thing I thought of when you posted the first time.

Could it have been a North Carolina thing? Even tho I'm close to the border, I never had a truck from there.

(also want to remind you that my experiences are from '60 and up and I was first talking the original posters truck, a '66)

Bill

Thanks everyone for responding. This answers my question but now I have another. How does one lock the cab to prevent unauthorized entry with only one lock? Seems to defeat the purpose with only one locking side...

You lock it by pushing the inside door handle the opposite way. It will travel a short distance then stop.

Bill

My 38 also had a outside lock only on passenger side. inside lock on drivers side.

Thanks, I'll give that a try.

That's funny, LOL.

But they're usually coy enough to attempt it only when you're not around.

It travels in the opposite direction but this doesn't cause it to lock. Any other ideas?

if moving the handle doesn't lock it, it's broke, fix it

Bill

Yeah, It sounds like something is broke in there. Take the inside cover off and try to see what's wrong.

Also try your other door. Don't forget, you need to move the handle on the inside, then go out the other door. I can't remember if these trucks will work like some older cars would where you needed to hold the button in on the outside while closing it, but going out the other door will prove if it works or not.

Bill

Thanks for the suggestion! I'll give that a try.

Chevrolet cars back in the '40's had a vertical push rod or button in the door that worked the lock. As I recall, it had a protection override in that you had to pull the door handle outside down to the "open" position to close and lock the door on the driver's side. While inside with the door shut, you could lock the door with the button then crawl out the right side passenger door. I think several states had laws about access to/from a parked vehicle on a roadway that required passengers to enter and exit on the passenger side.

The truck locks were as described, and it was fairly easy to lock the keys in the ignition with an inadvertent forward push on the door handle when getting out of the vehicle. Yeah, folks used to leave the keys in the ignition quite regularly, my grandpa always did. People in town knew that it was ok to move his car or truck if it happened to be in their way.

C10 - C90 Bill was right on. You lock from inside and exit the opposite door. I owe you a beer. Thanks everyone.

thats how the doors lock on my 66 c/60

I think this issue is resolved but want to throw my 2 cents in anyway. on my 53 you can't lock the door unless it's closed.