The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Barn Door Questions

I'm getting ready to install a set of barn doors on my 48 Suburban in place of the the factory clamshell set up. I have removed the screws from the turn down handle(one under the handle and one inside the door) plus the four screws on what I'll call the lock box on the door jamb and have removed the clip and lock from the outside of the door. The turn down handle still won't come off the door. The shop manual and assembly manual don't offer any help. Is there a trick other than the proverbial bigger hammer ? Also., does anyone know where to buy the clips (20) that hold the deluxe stainless trim that goes around the barn door glass?

Thanks,

John,

I took my handle off 8 years ago and I do not recall how I did it. Sorry. I will soon be putting the handle back on and will post what I learn (in a week or two - sorry). By the way, the Panel Truck handle and the Suburban handle have different length "stems" (I mention this just to add a little useless information).

Restoration Specialties has the exact clip for the barn door stainless trim strips. Send them one of your clips and they will match it (also, get a few extra). They have an excellent catalog with correct-size pictures/drawings to match your parts against.

http://www.restorationspecialties.com/

Good luck,
Tim

Tim,

Thanks for the reply and the link on the clips. The doors I will be installing most likely came from a panel. The check links were not on them except for one of the bracket ends and looking at pics you posted(I believe in the Lounge) showing the panel vs suburban check links they were from a panel.

By the way, I read in one of your posts that you are from Mr. Jefferson's hometown. I was lucky enough to be there from the fall of '70 - spring of '74 . Interesting times there.

Thanks,

John

Tim,

Thanks for the reply and the link on the clips. The doors I will be installing most likely came from a panel. The check links were not on them except for one of the bracket ends and looking at pics you posted(I believe in the Lounge) showing the panel vs suburban check links they were from a panel.

By the way, I read in one of your posts that you are from Mr. Jefferson's hometown. I was lucky enough to be there from the fall of '70 - spring of '74 . Interesting times there.

Thanks,

John

John,

I was at UVA from '68-'75 (as a student and then a research assistant). We bought the '54 Suburban near Crewe, VA in 1970. That's when/where I learned how to keep these truck's running. My teachers were local guys that built cars for dirt-track racing - they liked having a hippie student to joke with.

Those were enjoyable and interesting time - at least what I remember. I was in EVSC and Comp Sci; wewre you a student - what dept?

As I said above, I will not be putting the handle back on for a few weeks (a friend is painting the latch mechanism). However, I have the handle and retainer parts (but I do not remember how I got them off). There is a spring and "cup" that go over the rear stem of the handle - these hold the handle in place. A small pin goes through a hole in the stem and this holds the spring and cup in place. That pin has to be removed in order to get the handle off.

By the way, I hope you are saving all your clamshell parts, in case you want them for the future (or to sell/trade).

Good luck,
Tim

John,

I was at UVA from '68-'75 (as a student and then a research assistant). We bought the '54 Suburban near Crewe, VA in 1970. That's when/where I learned how to keep these truck's running. My teachers were local guys that built cars for dirt-track racing - they liked having a hippie student to joke with.

Those were enjoyable and interesting time - at least what I remember. I was in EVSC and Comp Sci; wewre you a student - what dept?

As I said above, I will not be putting the handle back on for a few weeks (a friend is painting the latch mechanism). However, I have the handle and retainer parts (but I do not remember how I got them off). There is a spring and "cup" that go over the rear stem of the handle - these hold the handle in place. A small pin goes through a hole in the stem and this holds the spring and cup in place. That pin has to be removed in order to get the handle off.

By the way, I hope you are saving all your clamshell parts, in case you want them for the future (or to sell/trade).

Good luck,
Tim

Tim,
I started in E School and bailed to The College-History with some EVSC, lots of "lazy"days on the Lawn with cheap wine, dogs, frisbees, and other things; road trips everywhere, Sprinsteen in the old gym on Alderman(tickets were $2 I think)Lupo's steak and cheese, Good Times.

I'll look for the pin and I'll definitely be saving all the clamshell parts for possible trading later on.

John