keeping suicide doors firmly shut

[Ron Pilger]

Over the past couple of days there was an interesting discussion from a new Barner who was interested in buying a high hp flathead (and other drive-line) for a 34 Tudor - his goal: owning a resto-rod capable of sustained driving speeds of 65 mph with passing potential of 85 to 90 mph. One of the many very astute comments which came in was to ensure that the project had mighty-fine door latches. One of my fears when driving my 34 versus my other Fords of the thirties is a door coming open or inadvertently being opened at any speed. It is for this reason the "pre-flight" in the 34 with my passenger includes awareness of where the handle is and a stern warning not to fiddle with same. My question: has anyone ever had the misfortune of having a door open on your 33 or 34 while cruising? I can't imagine the result at any significant highway speed!

[jimvette59]

I did on my 34 3 window fender less highboy coupe at 60 mph. The drivers side door flew open but did not hit the rear tire or I would not be talking to you today. It bent up the hinges and a bit of the body. When it happened I hit the brakes very hard and pulled over. I have previously read about this happening and was aware of never grabbing the door, it will yank you out of the car. I was lucky. There are latches and locks available to avoid this happening.

[jagnweiner]

Heh, heh. I've got suicide doors in the rear of my '25 Dodge Touring, but it tops out at about 40 going downhill, so it's never been an issue. :-)

[edhd58]

I don't remember who it was,but someone on here that takes lots of road trips was recently on one and one of his back doors came open at speed. I do remember it did some damage.

[JSeery]

I would suggest a safety latch, there are several different ones on the market plus some DIY approaches.

[blucar]

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In 1940, my mother decided to take me and my sister and younger brother to the Santa Monica beach. She told a friend of hers about the plan, she offered to use her car instead of our '40 chevy 2dr sdn, on the condition that my mother drive.. Mother was a very good driver whereas the friend was not.
We loaded up in the FORD, mother driving, me in the middle and my older sister on the right outside. I was seven my sister was ten.
When we got to Santa Monica Blvd. we had to make a left turn, S.M. Blvd was a wide street with street car tracks in the center of the street. Making the left turn onto S.M. Blvd the car hit the tracks which were typically a little rough, the right door flew open, my sister was falling out, everyone was screaming, my sister was halfway out the door, I grabbed my sister, hanging on for dear life.
Mother got the car under control, stopping it. I pulled sister back into the car, mother calmed her down, no injuries, my quick action had prevented her from hitting the street. Our trip to the beach was canceled, we went home.
The majority of the pre 49 door latches leave much to be desired, rough roads and/or dips in the road are infamous for allowing the doors to open regardless which way they open. I make it a habit to convert the door latches on my pre 49 vehicle to the "bear claw" style of latch.

[my4dv8]

I always listen for both doors when they shut to make sure the second latch is engaged on our 3W.
Had a buddy whose wife went to wind down the window on their 3W but hit the door handle at 60 mph luckily she had a seat belt on, the damage was ugly .

Then while we away at a hot rod event ,admittedly it was a Brookville 3W, an entrant had both doors fly open on the freeway, I suspect it was related to a chassis design flaw. It had original repro latches ,and I believe the owner was going home to fit bear claw latches.The damage wasn't as severe as you would expect.

My Wife didn't want seat belts in our 3W , she said she would rather have nothing. I said well if you fall out at speed then I will have nothing. So we fitted some period aircraft lap belts .

[Byron Warwick]

This happened, not on my Ford but in our 1954 MG TF. We were in Nova Scotia and on the way home from a seventeen day trip. We were driving in very windy weather and crossing a bridge. It turned out to have several pot holes near the top of the bridge and the body did a twist and the passenger door flew open. My wife did not have a near miss, but the door hit the rear fender breaking the restraint lever. We pulled over and our friends retrieved her hat from the side of the road.
We got out a bungee cord and attached it to the door and under the instrument panel, until we got home. I then did a refitting on the door, to stop that from happening. Re-fitting took several hours, and we have not been bothered since.
Byron.

[Lawson Cox]

I almost lost my wife going to the Eastern National Meet in Ellicott City back several years ago. The passenger door popped open AT ABOUT 60MPH and she tried to grab it. I grabbed her or she would have been slung out. We were all over the road for several seconds. Thankfully there was no traffic around and I got car back under control. Only damage done was door hinge and edge. PTL.

[Newc]

HI; I held the door and got stopped. A '33 latch locks in the opposite direction of my early '34 latch, and I tried to lock a door while driving.... it opened! I had a '33 latch in one door of an early '34. You can 'hide' sliding bolt safety locks under the dash. Newc

[Ian NZ]

This is the safety latch I would like to fit on my 3/W, would anybody out there know where I can obtain a set.

[Fibber Mcgee]

Originally Posted by edhd58

I don't remember who it was,but someone on here that takes lots of road trips was recently on one and one of his back doors came open at speed. I do remember it did some damage.

That was Old Henry, there's a thread on here somewhere with pictures.

[motordr]

Originally Posted by Ian NZ

This is the safety latch I would like to fit on my 3/W, would anybody out there know where I can obtain a set.

Ian, that's a real slick job. I could live with that in my car also. I also would like more info on this. Ted

[Frank Miller]

49 latches were so problematic that they were completely redesigned for 1950. In any car going around a corner can be most dangerous as there is centrifugal force on the passenger. Seat belts keep everyone in the car.

[Jason in TX]

Originally Posted by Ian NZ

This is the safety latch I would like to fit on my 3/W, would anybody out there know where I can obtain a set.

That is really slick! I'm sure it's home made. shouldn't be too hard to recreate.

[Vics Stuff]

Originally Posted by Ian NZ

This is the safety latch I would like to fit on my 3/W, would anybody out there know where I can obtain a set.

That latch system is real clean. Would like to use something like that on my vehicles.
Vic

[redmodelt]

Doors coming open is why people install seat belts, not just for crash protection. The rear doors on Model A 4 doors are the suicide type. Have a friend that one of his kids pulled the handle at speed because the door was not shut all the way, lucky no one was hurt.

[Ian NZ]

Originally Posted by motordr

Ian, that's a real slick job. I could live with that in my car also. I also would like more info on this. Ted

All I know is that it is fitted to a 1934 Ford V8 Sedan Hotrod I think by someone called Dave Mc-----, Dryside, Sierras, and he is a retired Autobody Business owner, I wonder if anybody from that area knows him as I would like to contact him too, for more information, he seems to be into hotrods.

[Jason in TX]

Yup. He does some great work. Check out his 1933 uh... C(?) 400???

[Ron Pilger]

I think the comments in this thread, to date, have been very beneficial. My take:
1. Old Fords can be built to go fast. The right engine is just the first of many, many steps if a person has a need for speed.

2. The cost of the right engine is a small fragment of the overall cost of a go-fast and be-safe build.

3. There is a ton of knowledge in the field. Whether we accept that knowledge, the wisdom of the ages and the voices of vast experience is left up to us as individuals.

4. Most all cars, regardless of era of build or re-creation, should have seat belts installed. For our own good, not for looks.

5. Smart and talented people invent neat things.

6. Put better brakes on your cars.

7. Drive cars appropriately and with respect, reflecting the way they were, or have been built.

8. Most builds cost way more than we can ever predict in advance.

9. With speed comes many other considerations - enough said on this topic.

10. Nothing beats Ford Barn as a way to share thoughts, opinions and perspectives. Thanks, Ryan, for the opportunity.