Hot Rods What are you using for your suicide doors?

Hello,
What are you all using for your suicide doors to keep them from opening while driving? This is for a 32 3 window coupe. Please post pics or provide ideas. Thanks in advance.

I think 3WLarry used a P-51 latch of some kind.

 

Someone was making those locks that incorporated a small rod that went into a hole in the front jamb. Can't remember who it was. Unfortunately, the little knob that you turned to lock was billet aluminum, but I'm sure it could be changed out for something more traditional. Anyone remember who sold these, Juliano maybe? Can't seem to retrieve the info from my old brain.

 

I’ve seen these

https://www.carolinacustom.com/page...in_kits/suicide_door_safety_pin_kits_page.jsp

 

Throwover latch. Used since the 30s on European cars.

 

Don't forgot you are trading one dangerous situation for another.

If something happens accident, medical emergency etc.. and are you are unconscious no one will be able to open the doors to help you.

If you are by yourself, and the recuse people can't figure out how to open the doors they are going to cut your cut up to you, even if it's something minor like passing out!

A similar situation happened to one of the engineers at work.

He passed out leaving work and drove up on the guardrail. Very limited damage to his truck but it has automatic door looks, and the recuse crew couldn't get to him and were going to take the Jaws of Life to the roof!

The only reason they didn't was because another coworker of mine (who called 911) suggested they break a window and shut off the switch and unlock the doors!

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^
We could say this about Many Things
As Humans !!
Pumping Gas is Dangerous !!
So many Lead Sled's with
Shaved Door Handles ,

@brady1929 Can be make simple
Or complex !!
Simple like @'29 Gizmo showed / posted
Chose mounting hardware Wisely..
Or complex like a Pin made in away like
Feed ramp of 1911 Colt
With a Spring loaded Like a Regular Striker attached to Existing door handle Mechanism, So both work together

 

Hmmm. My old Austin gasser has factory suicide doors and I've never added any extra latch? Been driving it 15 years, plus summer drags too. Maybe I need to think about something to make the doors stay latched?

Any ideas where to buy something like that?

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/4046770363...486&ssuid=&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

 

33 Plymouth sedan. All stock. Double suicide. Never had a problem with all original hardware. We been on the freeway too.

 

Have heard of Rumors of Happening.
I have Seen several hoods bent over
Roof , side Glass come out ,
My self I have Never See or Heard from Reliable source that seen happen about suicide door coming open ,
I am sure it has happen ,
How many Thoe ?,
Or Just on old wagon dirt trail roads?

But have seen on As doors Open ,
With a powerful Tq engine with flex
I would say Cheap Insurance mounted with more then Interior or sheet metal screws,

 

I've personally seen the results of rear suicide doors opening while the vehicle was moving several times. Including my own '40 sedan; prior to my ownership. I just ALWAYS check that both doors are closed, latched and locked before driving it. And I don't trust any back seat passengers to do that, so they get briefed to keep their hands off the door handles while the car is moving.

 

I went high tech, ACE Hardware has a nice little brass latch that does the job. HRP

 

I've had the suicide doors on my 48 blow open but the one that did the damage was the passenger side that I didn't close right and I was alone in the truck. I stopped to open a gate and drove through and locked the gate and somehow didn't close the passenger side door. The only thing I can think of for a reason is that the key for the gate was in my jacket pocket on the passenger seat.

 

Check online sites for marine hardware (Boater's World, etc.). Boats use all sorts of latches and locks, and many are stainless steel or chromed bronze.

 

Many many 1000s of miles of in our 3w and no issues, just always listen for the second click on the door. Although when were in Aussie one we did see a real 3W hi boy that had crossed railway tracks and BOTH doors came open , ye ha , soil your shorts. Lucky for Aussie rules and they we wearing full seat belts. Another buddy and his wife were ambling along she went to wind the window down , oops wrong handle, a little damage , again full seat belts.

 

I can say from experience , I have a sound 3 w body as any one . I would not want to destroy the body and hurt some one over a 100.00 set of safety lay latches . It has been many many years , but I think mine were from Yogis (?) . They are also the very best way to control theft . I leave the windshield loose , reach into the car trip the latch and slide the glass closed . Airplane Quadrants are what to look for

 

When I built my 3W back in the early '80s a good friend suggested the pin locks mounted to the jam and protruding into the doors. I never really needed them until one day heading north on the 405 and hit a pothole. The stock door latches let go but the pins held the doors. Considering the amount of damage a door could do to the body, fender and door it was a very worthwhile investment. The kit may have been from Julianno's.

 

Maybe this?
https://brookvilleroadster.com/products/1932-ford-3-window-coupe-suicide-door-safety-kit

An old thread on this subject:
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/safety-latch-for-a-3-window.956768/

 

Thank you all.

 

People in England in the 1930's must have all been very honest. The doors on my old Austin gasser don't hav any provision to lock.
I did find a pair of polished stainless throw latches today on Ebay, so once they get here I'll figure out where to mount them to latch them from the inside. Only my front doors are suicide, the rears are forward hinges.

 

When I was in the service I had a RHD MGTD that had suicide doors. One night on the way back to post the passenger door flew open on freeway ramp. Reached over and slammed it shut. Pulled over as soon as I could and tied it shut with the draw string form my field jacket.

 

I saw a 32 3W racing at Speed Week 20+ years ago that the driver's door opened while making a run. It was a mess. A little peace of mind isn't a bad thing. I like the Brookville one, looks nice and simple.

 

Cruising east on I-80 on the way to the Street rod nats and the lovely Donna was in front of me with her red 32 three window when the passenger side door opened at 70 MPH...what a mess! Took out the door and the quarter panel.
With that in mind I used bear claw latches in my 34 [avatar] and keep them adjusted. I was amazed when I put the body on the chassis and it takes something like 24 body bolts!! It's solid as a rock.

 

This has worked for me for over 40 years in my 34 delivery.

 

I think Brookville Roadster has a set up for 32s. Also, if you make your own, Amazon has all kinds of knobs .

Might be best to mount a latch that as you close the door, it is spring loaded so it slides over the stationary bracket and latches...........then you only have to remember it when you are getting out.

 

I have bear claw latches on my suicide doors, they feel very secure. On a related subject, my wife did surprise me the other day by opening my door for me...we were doing 70.

 

to be fair I don’t think any manually locked door is going to figured out quickly by a lot of people.

Even the simple push down and pull up locks on the garnish molding have been gone long enough for several new generations of people to be born.
When’s the last time you saw a 60 year old on a rescue team?

I’ve had people riding in my cars and not understand how to open the completely stock, unlocked door.

If it’s locked your car is getting busted up to make it not locked regaurdless of how the lock may work

 

In this part of the country (Upstate NY) many of them! Most of the fire departments/rescue squads are volunteer and most of them are 40 to mid 60s!



You completely missed the point, beside the not being able for rescue people being able to access you in a crash, What happens if it is just the average person coming to your rescue they aren’t going to be able to get to you out at all particularly in case a fire and in a panic are you going to remember the doors are latched/locked?

All you seem to think everyone lives in a major city and help is just minutes or seconds alway, and they have professional training.

I have news for you not everyone does, sometime if go for a cruise in the small town rural United States, you maybe relying on the average citizen for help I don’t know about you but I would much rather give them a fighting chance of getting out of my car then running the risk of bleeding or burning to death!

 

I bought that set to use in my Brookville coupe project and would not recommend them. The pin doesn't stick out far enough to engage the jam area enough in my opinion.
I bought the set from Carolina Custom as mentioned by Area-51 above. They were cheaper, better made, easier to install and has more features. It has a microswitch on the safety latch that you can wire a dash light and buzzer to that will remind you to engage the pin in the door when you go to start your car.