Question about 41 Plymouth Quirk

[rockable]

I just noticed something during disassembly. My 41 only has a key lock on the passenger side door. Is that normal? How is that supposed to work? You have to unlock the car from the PS and crawl across? Or is there some magic hidden alternative for locking and unlocking the DS door?

Also, how do you remove the key lock mechanism on the PS door? There appears to be a screw that is accessed through a plug in the door jamb but it is rusted to heck and back. Ideas? Drill it out?

One more question. There was a very flimsy formed piece of metal that had three sheet metal screws in it that was attached to the body door jamb in front of the door. Does that hold a weather seal in place.......or something?

Thanks, guys! Merry Christmas!!

[Roadkingcoupe]

I just noticed something during disassembly. My 41 only has a key lock on the passenger side door. Is that normal? How is that supposed to work? You have to unlock the car from the PS and crawl across?

There is only a door lock mechanism on the passenger door for good reason.

Theory #1- It was considered unsafe and "illegal" in some places to exit out the drivers door into live traffic.

In addition the driver could get out of the vehicle through the drivers door and the passenger could simply "lift" the drivers inside door handle into the "LOCKED" position. Then the drivers could walk around to the passenger side and manually lock the pass. door.

Hint: What works for me to unlock the car is to open the passenger lock with the key, reach across and manually unlock the drivers door by pushing down on the drivers interior door handle. Your choice if you want to slide across or simply walk around and the car.

Question #1

What YEAR did Chrysler include a drivers door lock?

Question #2

There are three different key shapes (as pictured below)

-round head

-hexagon head

-rounded off triangle

I forgot which key shape is for the door/ignition/glove box and trunk. Want to cut some new keys and I forgot which goes where! see photo.

For a larger picture "click" on the enlarged thumbnail and then use "control Ctrl" and + for further enlarging

Edited December 18, 2010 by Roadkingcoupe
spelling

[Skrambler]

Theory #2

You can NEVER lock your keys in the car!

[Young Ed]

I believe the postwar cars started the locks on both sides. I had an early p15 that had a hole in both doors but the drivers side had a cast chrome plug in it instead of a lock.

[1948Skip]

Roadkingcoupe,

To answer the key question: Hex head key--Ignition/Door

Round head key--Glove box

Round triangle key--Trunk

At least it is this way on the P-15

Skip

[Jim Saraceno]

I had the same question when I first bought my '35. My understanding was the same as RoadKing's theory one... safety factor.

If you watch movies from the 30s and 40s, you'll notice people getting into and out of their cars from the passenger's side. I always thought it had something to do with the camera angle but now I'm thinking it was standard practice.

I usually just slide across the seat from the passenger side to get into the car.

As far as getting that set screw out, liberal amounts of penetrating oil and persistence might do the trick, otherwise drill it out. Just be careful that you don't destroy the threads. If I remember correctly, that screw is a very odd size like maybe a #12. I know I had a hard time finding a replacement for it.

I'm not sure what that sheet metal is that you mention. Maybe a picture would be helpful.

[B-Watson]

On Chrysler products you could not lock your keys in the car as the front doors could not be locked from the inside and then closing the doors. Doing it that way the locks would unlock.

Starting in 1941 Chrysler started installing the inside door handles with the shaft pointing straight down. Thus to lock the door by pushing the handle forward and unlock/open by pulling to the rear of the car. In 1957 the shaft was mounted upward, toward 2 o'clock. Same method - to the front was lock and rear was unlock/open.

I have seen some people install the door handles Ford-like with the handle pointing forward. Must be very uncomfortable given the centre location of the handle as you must lift the handle to lock and pull down to open.

Lock buttons on the front doors appeared on the Valiant in 1960, Plymouth/Dart in 1962 and the large models in 1963. 1970 was the last year of not being able to lock your keys in the car.

[greg g]

Theory #3. Suppodeidly Henry Ford started the one lock deal. Real reason, save a buck a piece on the lock mechanism spread ofer a half million cars = half a million bucks in the pockets. My 56 Stuebaker is also equiped with only one lock on the pass side.

So Henry's money saving idea kept millions of dollars over the years when the one lock safety program prevailed.

Probably didn't do much for the lock industry though...

[P-12 Tommy]

Roadkingcoupe,

To answer the key question: Hex head key--Ignition/Door

Round head key--Glove box

Round triangle key--Trunk

At least it is this way on the P-15

Skip

My P-12 is set up the same way, key wise.

Tom

[Labrauer]

My 48 Plymouth has locks on both doors the glove compartment and the truck or as the older folks called it the turtle.

[Jim Saraceno]

Theory #3. Supposedly Henry Ford started the one lock deal. Real reason, save a buck a piece on the lock mechanism spread over a half million cars = half a million bucks in the pockets.

Part of that theory makes sense as Henry would do anything to save a nickel but it doesn't account for why it is on the passenger side rather than the driver's side.

[Plymouthy Adams]

Passenger side due to the fact that the law says you must park "with" traffic..thus the lock on the passenger side for exit/entry out of traffic for safety..that is also why the 41 Plymouth has the odd looking lens on the left rear only...that bubble was actually an early refelector built in and would mark the car's parked location from traffic approaching from the rear..these old boys always had a method to their madness..

[B-Watson]

Part of that theory makes sense as Henry would do anything to save a nickel but it doesn't account for why it is on the passenger side rather than the driver's side.

The true reason for the lock on one side was indeed due to laws restricting access/egress to the side away from moving traffic.

Which is why Ford's first sedan had a centre door only on the curb side in the U.S.

Ford of Canada, though, put a centre door on both sides as some provinces were LHD (Prairie provinces) while others, such as British Columbia, were RHD. Cheaper than tooling and producing two different types of the same body style.

[40plyrod]

This is quite a timely subject for me as I'm half way through the project of moving the lock to the drivers side. I found out when I removed both door latches the the drivers side latch was the same as the passengers only reversed and the passenger side had a little cam at the bottom the was activated by the key shaft. The drivers latch was only missing that cam but everything else was there so I took the latches apart and move the cam to the driver's door latch. Then I carefully measured and cut out the area of the door skin that held the handle and lock on the passenger side transferred it to the drivers side cut that out the same and switched them and welded them in. I did it this way so the inner stiffner went with the lock and handle. Everything seem to work well so far I've just got to put the latch back in the passenger side door to finish to say it worked 100%. I also moved the lock on my 51 chevy pickup but it was easier, just unbolt the passenger side doorhandle and switch it to the drivers side:D

[greg g]

Then some of those pesky municipalities introduced angle curb side parking to increase meter revenue, and logic just went out the window.

Our fine city just reintroduced angle parking in some parts of the city, but now you need to back in. They also just put in these chit vendors, so you need to get a ticket to put on your dash to authorize parking. So that you can o longer piggy back off some one's quarter should they pull out with time left.

[Don Coatney]

Then some of those pesky municipalities introduced angle curb side parking to increase meter revenue, and logic just went out the window.

Our fine city just reintroduced angle parking in some parts of the city, but now you need to back in. They also just put in these chit vendors, so you need to get a ticket to put on your dash to authorize parking. So that you can o longer piggy back off some one's quarter should they pull out with time left.

I recently was watching an old Dragnet 1969 re-run. They showed cars angle parked on a downtown street and all the cars were backed in. This was not a one way street. I dont recall ever seeing backwards angle parking although it makes a lot of sence. However there are a lot of drivers that do not know how to back up using mirrors. I am married to one such driver.

[rockable]

This is quite a timely subject for me as I'm half way through the project of moving the lock to the drivers side. I found out when I removed both door latches the the drivers side latch was the same as the passengers only reversed and the passenger side had a little cam at the bottom the was activated by the key shaft. The drivers latch was only missing that cam but everything else was there so I took the latches apart and move the cam to the driver's door latch. Then I carefully measured and cut out the area of the door skin that held the handle and lock on the passenger side transferred it to the drivers side cut that out the same and switched them and welded them in. I did it this way so the inner stiffner went with the lock and handle. Everything seem to work well so far I've just got to put the latch back in the passenger side door to finish to say it worked 100%. I also moved the lock on my 51 chevy pickup but it was easier, just unbolt the passenger side doorhandle and switch it to the drivers side:D

THAT's what I'm talking about! Thanks for the tip!

[rockable]

However there are a lot of drivers that do not know how to back up using mirrors. I am married to one such driver.

Me, too Don.

[BobT-47P15]

Then some of those pesky municipalities introduced angle curb side parking to increase meter revenue, and logic just went out the window.

Our fine city just reintroduced angle parking in some parts of the city, but now you need to back in. They also just put in these chit vendors, so you need to get a ticket to put on your dash to authorize parking. So that you can o longer piggy back off some one's quarter should they pull out with time left.

That's really the chits Greg.

[BobT-47P15]

Don, if I were backing into such a space, I would have to turn and look

over my shoulder, out the driver's window, etc. Doubt I could do it

with the mirrors.