passenger door lock?

[57chevyman]

hey everyone, id like to change my passenger door handle to a locking handle. Of course I want one key that works for both doors, so I guess the easiest way to do it myself is to get a new set of locking buttons.... are the door handle buttons easy to swap?

I found this on ebay $80 for the pair including shipping. anyone know of a less expensive source?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1955-1956-19...ff3be9&vxp=mtr

[Stepside Jim]

As long as the original and the aftermarket handles are basically the same I found the conversion to putting the locking mechanism to be very easy and straight forward.

I mention the original and the after market being the same because I bought new handles and locks from Classic parts, it was just a matter of removing a snap ring and a couple of parts get changed. So I can't speak for the originals, but the aftermarkets worked great.

Jim

[57chevyman]

Originally Posted by Stepside Jim

As long as the original and the aftermarket handles are basically the same I found the conversion to putting the locking mechanism to be very easy and straight forward.

I mention the original and the after market being the same because I bought new handles and locks from Classic parts, it was just a matter of removing a snap ring and a couple of parts get changed. So I can't speak for the originals, but the aftermarkets worked great.

Jim

thanks Jim. i do have the original door handles on there. its funny that they bothered to make the driver door lockable and not the passenger door

[sqrlnts]

My local locksmith keyed both mine to the same key for $40. If you can score an additional cheap cylinder you may come out ahead using old stuff.... Just a thought.

[55metalmonkey]

Before you change out the lock try to push the passenger door latch handle down (from the inside) until it clicks and try to open the door from the outside. The passenger door lock is incorporated into the handle and locks when its pushed down vs a pull on the door which is what everyone is use to.... Just in case you didn't know how it worked.... took me a while to discover this

[57chevyman]

Originally Posted by 55metalmonkey

Before you change out the lock try to push the passenger door latch handle down (from the inside) until it clicks and try to open the door from the outside. The passenger door lock is incorporated into the handle and locks when its pushed down vs a pull on the door which is what everyone is use to.... Just in case you didn't know how it worked.... took me a while to discover this

I never thought of that! ill try that and see what happens

[57chevyman]

Originally Posted by 55metalmonkey

Before you change out the lock try to push the passenger door latch handle down (from the inside) until it clicks and try to open the door from the outside. The passenger door lock is incorporated into the handle and locks when its pushed down vs a pull on the door which is what everyone is use to.... Just in case you didn't know how it worked.... took me a while to discover this

Thank you! just like you said, it does lock from the inside when I push the handle downward

I may eventually put a lock in that handle so that I can unlock it from the outside... but its good to know I can lock the door now!

[55metalmonkey]

Originally Posted by 57chevyman

Thank you! just like you said, it does lock from the inside when I push the handle downward

I may eventually put a lock in that handle so that I can unlock it from the outside... but its good to know I can lock the door now!

No problem, like I said it took me awhile to discover that as well. I was 1 day away from ordering a complete lock set for $100 bucks

[55metalmonkey]

Oh, one more thing I haven't tried yet and am unsure of is if you can set the lock with the door open and then close it. I've only ever locked it with the door already closed.

[57chevyman]

Originally Posted by 55metalmonkey

Oh, one more thing I haven't tried yet and am unsure of is if you can set the lock with the door open and then close it. I've only ever locked it with the door already closed.

it only works if the door is already closed

[55metalmonkey]

Ok thanks
good to know

[Speedbumpauto]

AND, if you lock it from the inside with the handle, you can't unlock it with the key, even if you install one. Two separate mechanisms. The passenger key option is mostly for people that do the bearclaw conversion. When you do that, you loose all method of locking the doors except with the key unless you do some wild gyrations with electronics.