1970 C10 Solenoid Request for Help

[alan c. brawn]

I need some help before the rest of my hair is pulled out. My C10 has shaved door handles. I have new 75-pound pull solenoids, but the latch is still tough to engage so I ordered the Altman Easy Latch Kit. On the 67-71 Chevy C10 standard door latch, the solenoid is located below that on the door jamb to pull down and release the latch. With Altman Easy Latch for shaved handles, the latch needs to pull to the side. There does not appear to be a place to relocate the solenoid so that it is a side pull. Can anyone suggest a way to make it work or better yet sell me a custom fabricated part that will work with the Altman Easy Latch and fit in the 67-72 door.

Thanks from an old guy!

[GASoline71]

Have you contacted Altman to see if they have any suggestions?

Gary

[alan c. brawn]

Thanks for the reply. I have emailed back and forth with them and they simply say to relocate the solenoid but as you probably know, there is no obvious place to put it to pull the latch from the side. I am surprised they have not run across this before and sell a bracket system to make it work. I did just reach out to them again so we will see if their engineering guy responds with any idea.

[alan c. brawn]

I am so disappointed with the Altman Easy Latch folks. The sell a latch kit for shaved door handles on a C10. I assume folks are using solenoids . The problem is that other than the door jam below the latch, there is no place to locate the solenoids for a side pull. I guess I will just snd the kit back and try to use the stock latch.

[CTurner1978]

Hey Alan,

Hopefully our last conversation cleared this up for you. Just thought I would shed some light on the topic here since it was left with no closure.

Our easy latch kits (Especially the shaved handle kits) come with two points for you to connect to. The lower hole is used for your inside handle and the upper hole is usually where people connect there solenoid.

Given the nature of a solenoid, it can literally be mounted anywhere in the door you choose to be the best (most convenient) place to mount it. After that, you use a combination of a braided cable and small pulley to accomplish your angle.

As you stated, we have gone back and forth about this, and I hope the drawing I sent you helped you get on your way. I just wanted to address it here, so that if anyone else is having an issue, maybe it will help.

[alan c. brawn]

The problem is not the latch kit. It is first rate. The problem is where to locate the solenoid so that it side pulls. If you look at the door there does not seem to be a place to locate that or a pulley system to make it work. I am happy to pay to have one fabricated but nobody has come forth with any ideas or offers. The truck is in for a full rewire using American Autowire so I hope somebody comes to the rescue. The original latches are very tough to use as you know.