Rufus: Door latches and other stuff.

(01/30/2007) One of the things I've learned about Model As is that almost all parts for them are being reproduced (or "repopped") by one company or another. One glaring exception to this is (are) the door latch mechanisms for 28 and 29 closed cab pickups (this applies to 26 and 27 Model T trucks, too.)

The right (passenger) door still had a latch when I got it, but the left (driver's) side was a different story. After searching for about a year, I finally found someone who had several and was willing to sell them. I won't disclose the price I paid but it was significantly more than a Happy Meal from McDonalds. And it was a rusty ol' thing, too. But that fits the truck's overall character.

This is the gaping (and non-functional) hole that was there when I got the truck.

(02/10/2007) After messing around with it for a while, I found out that the latch I got was for a Model T. They're slightly different and I had to do a bit of grinding to get it into its proper location.

View from inside the door.

The door handle I had ordered previously fit just fine. Now I won't have to hold the door closed with my elbow while driving.

This is the fuel sediment bowl. I'd seen one somewhere that had a skull in it and I liked the idea but I didn't want to do exactly the same. So I came up with the idea of "pickled eyeballs." I found a company that sells glass marbles in the shape and design of eyeballs. I bought a dozen and here's the result.

More to come.

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