Bear Jaw latches

[xtiaan2000]

Saw this done awhile ago. My doors are always hard to shut so they have to be slammed hard, or they pop open while driving!

There is a killer rebuild post on the for 45 section by buck I think (a "must read") and he uses them. I know that there have been some 55s that have had it done as well.

I wonder how one incorporates the locks. Cool to have good shutting doors, but bummer not to lock tho. A

Any suggestions?

 

[scrapdaddy]

Post a link, if you can find it. Sounds like something everyone should know.

 

[xtiaan2000]

Here's the 45 thread, but that does not address the locking issue. But it is 150 pages of "oh, no you didn't" types of stuff. This is you cup of tea, Scrapdaddy- for sure!

https://forum.ih8mud.com/fj45-owners-club/39575-1965-fj45lv-build-up-resto-thread.html

 

[LAMBCRUSHER]

bear claw latches or gator latches have been used by hod rod guys for some time now. You can find sets on ebay, there are locking versions, electric locks and non locking. with some creativity, one could prolly use the stock locking mechanisms to operate the locking version of these types of latches. I have been thinking about it for the last 3 months or so. My guess is that the latch would mount to the outside of the doors "wall" in place of the star latch that we all hate so much, and the new latches striker would mount in place of our strikers. I think that a cable type of actuator might have to be used, maybe some sort of bell crank to transition from the factory handles/regulators to the claw style latch. all do-able, prolly lots of small parts to fab up.

 

[Fitzgerald]

Here's a guy that put bearclaws on his 55.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/fj55-iron-pig-preservation-society/76835-pig-chebby-avalanche-trim-28.html

 

[LAMBCRUSHER]

o my, THAT thread.....just got lost there again for a half hour. like I said, a bit of small parts fab...

 

[LAMBCRUSHER]

what about having the star latched bracket bored out and bushed? it seems to me the problem is in the latch...mine are kinda buggered up and don't always turn when I try to close the door; I have to shut it just right. ...