I know the basic differences in the doors, but are door shells themselves the same? Meaning can I take a say a 54 door swap in my 49 door guts and now a have a "49" door? Or dont the latches etc fit in the different year of doors?

Ive found a super nice set of doors from a 51 and 54, but plan on using the 49 hardware as I prefer the turn down handle and no vent window.
Or am I stuck using the 47-50 doors if I plan on using that look?
Thanks...Eric

To the best of my knowledge 51.5 is the only weird one in the bunch. It can have a vent window and turndown handles. 51.5 up have a push button and I believe the door is actually different for that reason. But not sure about the window reg. 1951 downs are the same with turndowns. I have a set that have the vent and turndowns and every one seems to think thay are either 52 or 50's. Not being an AD guy I really don't know except thet they did make turndowns in 51.

I know that the 47-50 have no vent window and turn down handle. The 51 has the vent window and turndown handle. The 52 and up have the vent window with push button handle.
I also know that around 52? they used different door strikers and latches.

What am wondering is can I take a door with the different hardware say a 54 door, and install my 49 door hardware? Is This what makes the doors different just the fact of the door handles and vent windows or that the door itself is different and cant be swaped over to a different year type?

Ive found a great set of doors from a 54 and also from a 51. I dont want to buy them if they wont work. I want to keep that no vent window turn down handle look, so am I stuck using the only the 47-50 doors?
Thanks...Eric

I don't know the specifics about the strikers. Other than the latches and strikers, which changed with the 52, the door shell is the same. You can swap the window assemblies.

The doors that have the vent windows have a sheet metal mount
for the wing window that would need to be cut out. It is about
1 1/2 inch wide. Other than that the door should bolt on. If the
hardware doesn't directly bolt in, it should be a simple modification.

The doors that have the vent windows have a sheet metal mount
for the wing window that would need to be cut out. It is about
1 1/2 inch wide. Other than that the door should bolt on. If the
hardware doesn't directly bolt in, it should be a simple modification.

The door latching mechanism are different also. It is not as easy a swap as it would apear, believe me or I would have already done it. I have come to despise the turn down handles. Actually not the handles just the latching mechanisms. The 52 and newer design (push button handles) are much better. With that being said, if I were to do it again (and I may!), I would install bear-claw latches instead of using the original latch, just my .02$. Here are a couple of pics, one of my 48 and one of my 52.

Rob

I'm with Hart rod on this one, you can get a decent set of small bear claw latches on ebay for like 30 bucks, case a beer, and couple hours doing some lite fabrication you have a lot more relaible, and strong latching mechanism

You know guys, the cabs door jamb where the striker bolts is also different! You can't put a 48 striker on a 53 cab. They did however in 51-52ish make an "adapter" striker for those odd ball swing down handle and vent window doors. I have a pair of these strikers. They are very different in that they are stamped steel with a piece of metal rivited to it that matches the early latches.

And no, I will NOT be using those old latches, they SUCKED when they were new and they suck even more worn out or china made. I am going with bear claws out of a mid 80's Jeep CJ (Wrangler?) hard top door. They are exactly as you see in the street rod stores but they have a lock!

Brian

Amen to the Bear claw style latches. I can't count how many times I hit a bump or turn in the road and 1 or both of my doors would fly open(when I drove it stock). Here's a pick of my older style (no wind wing) door on my '54 cab. I too like the look of a solid window. I've never been a fan of the sliding windows or wind wings. They tend to leak more and are visually unapealing to me.

Do those bear claws work with the stock handles? I understand its NOT a bolt on deal, but yet dont want something thats a huge amount of fab and engineering work.

http://www.julianos.com/bear_claw_door_latches.html
This is where I got mine(I think?)though there are other places that sell them. They should come with the installation instructions and measurements. They will use stock handles. I plan on using the older turn down handle instead of the push button. I'll try and post pics when the final mock up is done.

Here's an install for the push button handles and an adapter for the turn down for you Daniel:

Install:

http://www.chuckthetruck.com/page23.html

Adapter:
http://www.southernrods.com/categories/hot-rod-interiors/door-accessories/products/product-1304.html

Check out this idea for a latch.... http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?p=1986439#post1986439

Brian