Door latch

[fred56]

I have a 28 Ford coupe and I'm thinking of installing bear claw latches. Does anyone have any experience doing this and does anyone have pictures of the finished product?

[bluestang67]

Fred i looked at them also. There will be some cutting and welding . Just make sure of all the measurments . They really dont seem like they would be too difficult.

[38racing]

check out this thread

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...044&&showall=1

[bluestang67]

signed up looks like some good reading

[bluestang67]

i see its not cut and dry for a Model A . He did some nice work. This is definitly the way to go for safety.

[C9x]

Here's a BearClaw - small model - for a 31 trunk lid.

There's a 1/8" steel backup plate so as to spread the load.
The 4th bolt - the latch only requires three bolts - is there to keep the backup plate in place when the latch is removed along with spreading the load a little more.

The release cable is a diesel truck item and perhaps a little heavy, but it operates smoothly and a similar one I have is still going strong after 14 years.

The release cable and latch will be covered with a half round sheet metal protector.
Nothing quite like having stuff in the trunk keeping the latch from opening.

Been there, done that with a rumble seat car . . . never again . . . rumble seats anyway....

[Irelands child]

The small, single cam bear claws will work in a Model A door just fine. They are tight. Make sure that you have the double bellcrank version so you can mount the inside handles without too many pulleys. This is a '30-'31, with electric releases and a Juliano safety latch.

[bluestang67]

Ireland i was talking with someone tonight they said same thing . Get the small ones. I have pondered the thought of a newer handle adaption but havent seen the one that grabs me yet.

[Irelands child]

Ireland i was talking with someone tonight they said same thing . Get the small ones. I have pondered the thought of a newer handle adaption but havent seen the one that grabs me yet.

My handle (knobs??) are from Watson's Street Works
http://www.watsons-streetworks.com/k..._releases.html

Simple, unobtrusive, reasonable - mine are the ovals.

[38racing]

My handle (knobs??) are from Watson's Street Works
http://www.watsons-streetworks.com/k..._releases.html

Simple, unobtrusive, reasonable - mine are the ovals.

Looks like they have the ideal bear claw for the As. Wonder if that direct connect inside nob release clears the glass on an A?

[Irelands child]

Looks like they have the ideal bear claw for the As. Wonder if that direct connect inside nob release clears the glass on an A?

Where the knob is placed is your choice. You can put it low down on the door to miss the glass and run cables and pulleys or rods and bell cranks like I did. Mine is high, being a roadster. You may have to use a hole saw and open some more access holes to work through as well - unless you have really small hands which I don't. This is a time consuming job, but really satisfying when done.