Door striker plates

like everyone my drivers side door barely stays closed on my 53 chevy, can the strikers be adjusted enough or is it better just to buy new ones?

 

Mine stay closed ... we use the parts from the rear doors of a 4 door because they don't wear out as fast.

 

They can but after all those times that door has been closed or slammed shut , it would be much better and SAFER to just replace them with some new Bear Claw style door locks . There is nothing worst than thinking the doors are closed good and safe to lean on until you make a right hand turn and the damn door pops open ! It's scary and not too much fun either . I had it happen to me one time but was lucky and was holding onto the steering wheel pretty well at that time . You could do what 302GMC said but that's just a Band-aid till that one does the same thing . Just remember the door locks are 60 years old ! So you tell me if you really want to trust them when you or someone else very close to you falls out a door when the lock pops open again ! Isn't worth taking that chance to me for the $65 the locks will cost you to replace and insure the safety of the people in my car !
Just my opinion !

Retro Jim

 

As noted by OP, like everyone the driver door on my 1953 Ford is popping open a lot. I tore it all apart and managed to get the ***embly out and can see where it is worn out. Unless I missed something, everything is riveted together so I can't really take it apart to repair the worn piece.

I know the bear claws are all the rage but I am not really into chopping up my door to put them on. For those who don't know, they were still running the little star wheel and striker plate in 1953 and not the latch and post similar to the bear claw. I have seen some used parts on ebay but they are likely prone to the same problems. Anyone have any other suggestions? Will the rear door ***embly fit? Thanks!

 

Make sure you hinge pins are good. That will help keep the door in alignment. Hold your thumb on the door handle ****on and push the door closed. Look at your door fit. If its good fix you old latches and get you a good sticker. Grease the latches while you have them out of the door. Seen the so called restored cars that the door latches and window regulators are not cleaned and lubed.

 

Thanks for the advice-the lock ***embly has to be replaced. There is a little wheel on the inside of the ***embly that has worn out the metal that is supposed to stop it after each turn. Not sure what to do-Dennis Carpenter has a whole bunch of NOE for 1951 but that isn't quite the right fit.