I think someone brought this up as some of our Fords need some door latch help anyway here is a link with some pictures. www.roddingroundtable.com/tech/articles/bearclaw1.html
Thanks Jeff for the link.... I have installed several sets of 'bear claw latches' in cars and if you have some basic welding skills and can do some basic body work they are very easy to do. My "Yard Art Rod" has four of them in it..... I had to get creative, but they were still easy.
While mounting the latch in the door is good, give some thought to installing them in the body as I have seen done before...I just can't remember where. This method mounts the stud to the door and eliminates all inner door mechanism. The latch mounts inside the quarter panel where there's lots of room and easy access. The drawback to this method is activating the latch. If you go 100% electric there's no problem, but if you want to retain a mechanical backup for egress - as many of us would prefer - it's a bit more tricky. I'll try to dig up a source for more info on this "backwards" bear claw installation. Will post as soon as I find it.
Anybody that goes without a mechanical way of exiting the car is a fool especially if there is an electrical problem/fire and you can't open the doors or electric windows to exit. It happened a few years ago when a guy picked up his newly customized truck with solenoid operated doors and power windows. While driving he had a short and fire under the dash and he could not get out. Fortunately for him a cop saw him and used a automatic hole punch to shatter the window and got him out.
Absolutely agree. I thought I covered this in my post, but just to be sure the subject is adequately addressed, baker53's comments are right on the money. A mechanical backup for egress is an indespensable safety item, one that is far more tricky to install if the latch is installed "backwards". As he states, the dependance on electric-only door operation is foolhardy. Thanks, baker53.
The Jalopy Journal
