installation of bear claw latches in 1953 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

53lochevy · 11-07-2008, 03:53 PM

Ok guy here's some of the pics of the new latch that I have come up with for the bear claw latches using the orginal door handles. First layout the door in the same location as the old stock latches where as shown on the pic, take your time in laying out and the cut out before the line and grind to line nice and neat. Once door has been fitted with the bear claw latch plate u can start to work on the latch itself. Materials needed for install set of small bear claw latches, 2- 3/8 plates from loews by the steel section for the latches, 1 box of door clips from O'reillys, 2- 125 bolts with sleeves and washers, 2 nylon nuts, and the old springs out of the stock latches, wire handle from a 5 gal plastic can for the linkage. Get a template made in the shape you see in the pic or ask and I'll send ya one copied from mine one works for both sides, cut out door latches, bend as to pic shown and drill holes as shown also in pic. Once latches have been cut and bend to fit get one of the bolts and weld in place as shown in pic, next drill small hole as shown in pic for the spring to insert into, place on washer on bolt then place new latch then another washer then take old spring and bend a 90 angle as shown in pic then insert 90 into hole as shown in pic and bend the other end behind latch as shown place last washer on top followed by the nylon nut and tighten not to tight must move freely. Next get 2 door clips and insert into hole on bear claw latch and the new latch, take wire from handle 5 gal can and cut you a piece, bend 90 in vice and place in one hole measure and bend 90 in other end be sure to hold the bear claw latch down tight not to release the latch just to take the slack out of latch and measure bend in 90 and install and secure door clips to wire and there you have it guys the right way and not a butchered product or cover up nice and neat. just my opinion Enjoy

53lochevy · 11-07-2008, 03:57 PM

more pics

53lochevy · 11-07-2008, 04:03 PM

last of the pics

53lochevy · 11-07-2008, 04:08 PM

This assembly is also all removable from the door once the bear claw plate is welded to the door. The linkage needs to be on the other side of the latch and bearclaw not on the inside, must have got in a hurry to take pics. Nice

53lochevy · 11-07-2008, 04:12 PM

will have some shots of the truck with the bagged mustang II installed in it and will post the final install once in the door on monday

TheEstablishment · 11-13-2008, 02:51 PM

Looks really slick!

Do you have any plans for door locks? I'm planning on putting bear claws in my truck and I keep running into door lock issues. I would like to keep everything manual but wouldn't mind electric locks.

53lochevy · 11-13-2008, 02:54 PM

Going to use the original door handles inside and outside I like chrome to much, plus these handles on the 53 are the push kind not he crank 90 handle in earlier models.

TheEstablishment · 11-13-2008, 03:06 PM

Yeah, they look too nice to shave 'em.

so you're just gonna use the push button lock to lock the truck? My '49 GMC has already been converted to the push button, so I guess that would be the simplest solution.

53GMC · 04-14-2010, 10:09 PM

I love this concept and is one i might try in the future...where did you get the piece i have circled in the picture? did it come with the set of bear claw latches you have?
Thanks

Fat Mike · 04-14-2010, 11:13 PM

What are the dimensions of a small bear claw. Are yours new or can you use used ones? I never see anyone do this mod using used bear claw latches.
Attachment 572479

solidaxel · 04-15-2010, 12:24 AM

Thank You!
Very well made, I am storing that for later use !!
Now on with the windshield wiper bracket !!

dodgeman501 · 05-12-2010, 08:19 PM

i would like to get a copy of the templet u used for this if u have one or if any body else has onme or something close to it
thanks

4DSEVEN · 05-12-2010, 08:23 PM

Looks awesome!! Nice work.

I would like a copy of the template too please.

I have my shaved door kit but haven't got a chance to really check things out just yet.

b-mac · 09-29-2017, 03:55 PM

OP never answered questions. Did you guys get your templates? I'm about to get into this and need to decide a direction.

_Ogre · 09-30-2017, 02:10 PM

the op hasn't posted since 2013

sqweaka · 10-22-2017, 03:00 PM

ive just bought a pair of these bear claw latches to convert my 49 with and ive just found this post... how does this even work.. the part of the latch where the wire is connected to (circled in red in one of the above pictures) needs to be pulled down by the wire to operate the latch not inward as shown in the second picture in post 3, pulling it inward wont make the latch open! well it wont on mine and they look exactly the same as the ones pictued

11-07-2008, 03:53 PM	#1
53lochevy Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: mckinney, tx Posts: 141	installation of bear claw latches in 1953 Ok guy here's some of the pics of the new latch that I have come up with for the bear claw latches using the orginal door handles. First layout the door in the same location as the old stock latches where as shown on the pic, take your time in laying out and the cut out before the line and grind to line nice and neat. Once door has been fitted with the bear claw latch plate u can start to work on the latch itself. Materials needed for install set of small bear claw latches, 2- 3/8 plates from loews by the steel section for the latches, 1 box of door clips from O'reillys, 2- 125 bolts with sleeves and washers, 2 nylon nuts, and the old springs out of the stock latches, wire handle from a 5 gal plastic can for the linkage. Get a template made in the shape you see in the pic or ask and I'll send ya one copied from mine one works for both sides, cut out door latches, bend as to pic shown and drill holes as shown also in pic. Once latches have been cut and bend to fit get one of the bolts and weld in place as shown in pic, next drill small hole as shown in pic for the spring to insert into, place on washer on bolt then place new latch then another washer then take old spring and bend a 90 angle as shown in pic then insert 90 into hole as shown in pic and bend the other end behind latch as shown place last washer on top followed by the nylon nut and tighten not to tight must move freely. Next get 2 door clips and insert into hole on bear claw latch and the new latch, take wire from handle 5 gal can and cut you a piece, bend 90 in vice and place in one hole measure and bend 90 in other end be sure to hold the bear claw latch down tight not to release the latch just to take the slack out of latch and measure bend in 90 and install and secure door clips to wire and there you have it guys the right way and not a butchered product or cover up nice and neat. just my opinion Enjoy Attached Images

11-07-2008, 03:57 PM	#2
53lochevy Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: mckinney, tx Posts: 141	Re: installation of bear claw latches in 1953 more pics Attached Images

11-07-2008, 04:03 PM	#3
53lochevy Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: mckinney, tx Posts: 141	Re: installation of bear claw latches in 1953 last of the pics Attached Images

11-07-2008, 04:08 PM	#4
53lochevy Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: mckinney, tx Posts: 141	Re: installation of bear claw latches in 1953 This assembly is also all removable from the door once the bear claw plate is welded to the door. The linkage needs to be on the other side of the latch and bearclaw not on the inside, must have got in a hurry to take pics. Nice Last edited by 53lochevy; 11-14-2008 at 12:15 PM.

11-07-2008, 04:12 PM	#5
53lochevy Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: mckinney, tx Posts: 141	Re: installation of bear claw latches in 1953 will have some shots of the truck with the bagged mustang II installed in it and will post the final install once in the door on monday Attached Images

11-13-2008, 02:51 PM	#6
TheEstablishment Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Grand Junction, CO Posts: 8	Re: installation of bear claw latches in 1953 Looks really slick! Do you have any plans for door locks? I'm planning on putting bear claws in my truck and I keep running into door lock issues. I would like to keep everything manual but wouldn't mind electric locks.

11-13-2008, 02:54 PM	#7
53lochevy Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: mckinney, tx Posts: 141	Re: installation of bear claw latches in 1953 Going to use the original door handles inside and outside I like chrome to much, plus these handles on the 53 are the push kind not he crank 90 handle in earlier models.

11-13-2008, 03:06 PM	#8
TheEstablishment Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Grand Junction, CO Posts: 8	Re: installation of bear claw latches in 1953 Yeah, they look too nice to shave 'em. so you're just gonna use the push button lock to lock the truck? My '49 GMC has already been converted to the push button, so I guess that would be the simplest solution.

04-14-2010, 10:09 PM	#9
53GMC Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Washington, GA Posts: 319	Re: installation of bear claw latches in 1953 I love this concept and is one i might try in the future...where did you get the piece i have circled in the picture? did it come with the set of bear claw latches you have? Thanks Attached Images __________________ 1953 GMC/S 10 Swap http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=357365

04-14-2010, 11:13 PM	#10
Fat Mike Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 540	Re: installation of bear claw latches in 1953 What are the dimensions of a small bear claw. Are yours new or can you use used ones? I never see anyone do this mod using used bear claw latches. Attachment 572479 __________________ FAT MIKE My 59 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=400201 My 47 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=386848 Last edited by Fat Mike; 04-22-2010 at 08:46 PM.

04-15-2010, 12:24 AM	#11
solidaxel Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Cactus Patch So. Az Posts: 4,749	Re: installation of bear claw latches in 1953 Thank You! Very well made, I am storing that for later use !! Now on with the windshield wiper bracket !! __________________ 53 TuTone Extended Cab 350 4-Spd 3:08 (SOLD) 53 Chevy Moldy pearl green ZZ-4 4L60E 9" 3:25 55 GMC 1st Black Mll (ZZ4) ZZ6 TKO 600 5 sp 3:73 62 Solidaxle Corvette Roman Red (327 340hp 4spd 3:36) C4 & C5 suspension tube chassis LS 3 4L70E 65 Corvette Coupe 327 350hp 4spd 4:11 78 Black Silverado SWB (350/350) 5.3 & 4L60E 3:42 2000 S-Type 3.0 (wife cruiser) 2003 GMC SCSB 5.3 4L60E 3:42

05-12-2010, 08:19 PM	#12
dodgeman501 Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: conway ar Posts: 1	Re: installation of bear claw latches in 1953 i would like to get a copy of the templet u used for this if u have one or if any body else has onme or something close to it thanks

05-12-2010, 08:23 PM	#13
4DSEVEN Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 239	Re: installation of bear claw latches in 1953 Looks awesome!! Nice work. I would like a copy of the template too please. I have my shaved door kit but haven't got a chance to really check things out just yet.

09-29-2017, 03:55 PM	#14
b-mac Registered User Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Wichita Posts: 516	Re: installation of bear claw latches in 1953 OP never answered questions. Did you guys get your templates? I'm about to get into this and need to decide a direction.

09-30-2017, 02:10 PM	#15
_Ogre Registered User Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Motown Posts: 7,666	Re: installation of bear claw latches in 1953 the op hasn't posted since 2013 __________________ cool, an ogre smiley Ogre's 58 Truk build how to put your truck year and build thread into your signature shop air compressor timer



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10-22-2017, 03:00 PM	#16
sqweaka Registered User Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Belford uk Posts: 120	Re: installation of bear claw latches in 1953 ive just bought a pair of these bear claw latches to convert my 49 with and ive just found this post... how does this even work.. the part of the latch where the wire is connected to (circled in red in one of the above pictures) needs to be pulled down by the wire to operate the latch not inward as shown in the second picture in post 3, pulling it inward wont make the latch open! well it wont on mine and they look exactly the same as the ones pictued

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