The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Replacement door handles

Things I don't like about the replacement door handles:

1) The hole in the handle is too small for the lock retainers. I thought first it was because of a little surface rust on the retainers so I filed it off. Still no go. I ended up reducing them with a grinder.

2) The slot for the clip that holds the retainers in is cut too deep. The clip is almost buried in the slot.

3) The original clutch head screws can't be used to attach the handles. They have metric threads. I have nothing against metric bolts and screws but I don't like mixed use. If it's SAE it should be all SAE and vice versa.

What are your thoughts on the matter?

Unfortunately, most repop parts SUCK! Almost every aftermarket part I have bolted on my truck needed "massaging" to get it to fit right. Never had to do door handles yet though. Have you done window channels yet? That's next for me. :rolleyes:

I'm definately with you on the mixing the sae and metric bolts. I've always hated that and am of the opinion that they could throw away half the sizes in the metric world and itwould be a lot better. Oh say ever other one.....Ronnie

Every repop body and appearence part i've come across sucks hairy, sweaty, tick infested donkey balls.

But that's new parts for ya.. and "improved" mfg processes, and the .16 cents an hour labor.

I'd take a old original part over a sparkling new repro part any day of the week.. they fit better, they're built better, and they'll last longer.. not to mention most original parts are cheaper than the repros.

I guess if you're only going to drive your truck once a month to a local show, or are putting it in a museum, repop parts are alright.. but in my experience, they just don't cut the mustard for daily driver and/or working trucks.

Hey Fumblin, how do you Really feel? LOL

Ordered 4 brake cylinders for my 59, 3 had sae bleeder screws, 1 had metric..reaching around the wheel trying to get my wrench on the bleeder screw is NOT the time to find out why Your wrench wont go on..

Took me a while to get myself to remember each time that the bleeder screws on my rear brake cylinders take a 9MM wrench.

I find it really annoying!

I've become more selective about where I buy parts and what I replace versus rebuild because of this kind of issue.

It doesn't get any better with newer chevy's. I have to carry metric and sae for my 93 K1500. Engine is SAE (good ole 350) - most other mixed.

I put new outside door handles on my 54, from Chevy Duty. No problems installing them and no complaints ... BUT repro's really do suck!

The push buttons show rust pretty soon ... but the worst of it was when a buddy of mine came home with a pristine 1954 Chevy BelAire that has only 45,000 original miles on it! Phew! What a buy ($7,000) ... no rust anywhere. Anyway, when I just looked at the door handles I had a true revelation, man. You could see the quality ... 50-year-old steel and the quality made my brand new repro's look like absolute trash.

One thing I've learned in my 2 years of Stovebolting is to avoid repro stuff like the plague!

My new front wheel cylinders will not fit the cutouts in the backing plates!