Non standard door latching.....what to do?

[Jonny Hotnuts]

Our stock Fiat door latches are IMO not acceptable. I am fairly certain that in a roll over the doors would both come open due to a latch failure. I have had a problem opening and closing the doors because the latches are so bad and opening through the door net is a problem.

It is my intent to shave the current pull type door latches and use another method for the release.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a good way to approach these?

[jimmy six]

This may sound really hokie but many many years ago a lot of comp coupes used a sliding bar. They were in the shape of a cross. 2 tubes in the door with a gap of 3" and a tube in the door jam. one short side to the inside for you and the other thru the door skin for the outside guy to let you out in an emergency. The would stick out about 2 to 3" outside the door skin. Not very aero dynamic but extremely effective. I don'k know how much of the original inner door you have to attach the tubes too, but old ones I saw were pretty substantial...All the suicide door Ford coupes were mandated to do this. Rods were 1/2" in diameter...

Today guys use these bearclaw aftermarket latches.................. Good Luck

[Cajun Kid]

Jimmy,

Do you feel the "Bear Claw"  latches are ok for my car ? (1933 Ford Vicky, yes suicide doors)  The Bear Claws have a 2 stage latching setup, seems OK but I read in the rule book that stock latches are not good enough. 

Any thoughts ?  Anyone ?

[RichFox]

I think that Tone (Jimmy Six) is an inspector and a long time particapant at Bonneville and El Mirage and if he is recomending a Bear Claw latch you can take it to the bank

[Jonny Hotnuts]

I would like to see a pic(s) if anyone has one lying around or is willing to take one.
[or other suggested methods]

I am not sure that I know what a bear claw is....unless you are talking about the breakfast pastry!!

[Sumner]

I would like to see a pic(s) if anyone has one lying around or is willing to take one.
[or other suggested methods]

I am not sure that I know what a bear claw is....unless you are talking about the breakfast pastry!!

Almost all street rods use them.  Just google them.  Great seeing you guys,

Sum

[Roadsters.com]

Almost all street rods use them.

Those latches are used by everyone from Wescott's to Kenworth and Freightliner. They are made by Eberhard.

http://www.eberhard.com/

Dave
http://www.roadsters.com/

[Cajun Kid]

Rich,  Thanks,,, I will try to get a ruling from JimmY Six or someone who handles my class..

I too think the Bear Claws must be OK..

I have look over 100's of pictures of vintage cars with suicide doors and even when zooming in I can not see any "secondary latching hardware" visible from the outside.  If they had some sort of secondary latch, it would have to have clearly marked access from the outside as well as the inside.

The absense of this would lead me to suspect that they may have Bear Claws, or be running at speeds that allow stock latches.

I am just guessing, still in search of the real answer.

Charles

[Sumner]

With suicide doors I would run secondary latches regardless of whether the primary ones were bear claw or not.  I have bear claws on my truck and they have at times unlatched to the first notch, but never all the way.  Still it wouldn't be hard to make a release handle that would work in and out of the car for bear claws and secondary latches, so why not?

Don't forget these are race cars first and street rods/show cars second.

c ya,

Sum

[Cajun Kid]

Sum,

Thanks for the input. (trying to figure out a way to have secondary latches and keep the Street Rod/Show car too...)  It has been tough to keep the Vicky simple, safe, retro and Race and Show it too,,,

FYI - I canned the Trans Am idea and I am picking up a 53 Studebaker Champion this Friday. The Stude will be "Race Only" I am taking the "E" motor out of the Vicky after the Maxton October meet to use in the Stude...for 2009 (hope to bump my record at Maxton and set another before i take the "E" motor out.

The Stude will then become my Primary Race Car (for Maxton, Bonneville etc..)and the Vicky will serve double duty at Maxton and for Shows and Cruise In's

Thanks again, any pics you have of vintage era suicide door cars secondary latches would be appreciated...

Charles

[4-barrel Mike]

I did a bunch of these 10-12 years ago: flush fit Honda door handles.  Generally used the Honda latches too, but occasionally bear claws.



This one, I think, had electric openers than continually failed, so the owner had me put these in.

Mike

[Cajun Kid]

Mike, are you saying those latches are legal ?
(as the only door latching device)

[jimmy six]

After an explanation I have accepted the Bearclaw conversions on the old doors. I would look to the head of tech for final approval. (listed in the book).

The old stuff was used "back in the day" when there was not much safety concerns. Some of the secondary devices were only removable from the inside. Guys would use a strap slid over a pin; one on the door, one on the door jam. There were no nets.

I could draw up many different ways to do a secondary bar latch depending on the class you are running but don't expect any of them to win points at a car show. These would be very, very mechanical in nature to do a specific job. They many also be tough to reach after the starter has checked you in the seat. If you are sitting back for a Comp Cpe this maybe very difficult but not impossible. Remember these must be also workable from the ouside. I would lean to the modern latch conversion.  Good Luck

[4-barrel Mike]

Mike, are you saying those latches are legal ?
(as the only door latching device)

Well, I was mostly thinking that this type of handle would be more "elegant" than a rod or something sticking out of the door skin.

Mike

[Cajun Kid]

Jimmmy and Mike,  thanks alot... I will contact the rules people to get a final Ok or No NO..

As we speak I have the old 1933 Door Handles on the car retro fitted with the Modern After Market Bear Claw Latches. 

If Need be I will rig up secondary system.

Thanks

Charles