Door Handle Dilemma

[Vicfreg 773]

The simple things seem sometimes so frustrating. I restored a number of these cars, and for some reason I’m having fits getting my exterior door handles installed.

I have the stock style, and also a black powder, coated Billet style door handle, which have the exact same configuration, and I can’t get either one of them installed.

I have stock sheet metal, the door skins have never been modified.

I believe my issue is with the actuator mechanism.
 

I don’t have the original door handles or actuator mechanisms,, but I did receive new actuator mechanisms with the Chrome style original once I purchased.

I cannot seem to rotate the door handle into the proper position without the actuator mechanism binding against the inside of the door skin.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.!!

 

 

 

 

 

[69RavenConv 286]

It's been a while since I did mine and I remember it is a bit of a Rube Goldberg setup but I'm pretty sure I managed it  the way it's shown on the averagejoerestoration.com page.

(Sorry, site won't allow me to post the link)

 

 

[Ridge Runner 1,113]

For some reason this piece in aftermarket is hard to get into the door ,i usually wind up using the one from an original handle on the new handle 

[Vicfreg 773]

Yeah, I just need to get a hold of couple of those. I guess I’ll look on eBay.

[Vicfreg 773]

The link actually came through to my email, but my browser is telling me the site is  not secure

[Midlife 814]

Is it true that the 69 exterior door handle is the same as the 65/66 Mustang?

[Vicfreg 773]

Good question.   Don’t know.

 

[69RavenConv 286]

It is according to the label on the one I bought years ago.

 

[jjstang 51]

I don’t know if it’s still holds true but for some reason the button itself isn’t compatible with the 69. That’s what it said in the catalog. Had to reuse mine. 

[Vicfreg 773]

The issue that is causing the fitment problem it’s not the door handle necessarily, it’s the actuator mechanism.

My original door handle, has a single mounting hole in the center of the doorhandle near the push knob.

So those actuators only have one mounting hole, you can see that in the pictures.

The aftermarket doorhandles have an offset mounting hole, and the actuators have two mounting holes.  The two hole actuator is actually wider than the original, it’s very difficult to fit through the hole in the door.

This actuator is in the picture next to my original, it doesn’t fit properly, I cannot get enough clearance to properly install the door handle.

The last picture is what I believe to be the correct actuator, comes in this case with the Scott Drake, 1969, 1970 doorhandles. It’s much smaller, and has a rounded shape, which allows you to easily insert the door handle and get the proper clearance.  It also has two holes.
 

I ordered a set of these, I’ll let you know how it works out.

 

[RogerC 136]

I have new Scott Drake's, will be good to know if there's a problem.

[Vicfreg 773]

For sure, I’m traveling this week on business, but I think next weekend I’ll be able to get those installed and see how they look, I’ll definitely post something on this.

 

[TexasEd 188]

I read somewhere, maybe on NPD, that the 69 and 70 handles are the same but the actuators inside the door are different.  The new handles I bought for my car had the different ones and so I told my shop to use the original actuators with the new handles.

[Vicfreg 773]

These are original door handles from a 1970 Mustang.   They have a 1967 casting number.  The actuator mounting hole is in the center.

More to come when I get my next set.

 

[Ridge Runner 1,113]

I always save my old handles just for the spring and internals ,problem is i dont know where i put them . The new handles springs are always so strong its almost impossible to push the button 

[Midlife 814]

10 minutes ago, Ridge Runner said:

I always save my old handles just for the spring and internals ,problem is i dont know where i put them . The new handles springs are always so strong its almost impossible to push the button 

I guarantee that you'll find them in the last place you look...trust me on this!

[Mach1 Driver 560]

16 hours ago, Midlife said:

I guarantee that you'll find them in the last place you look...trust me on this!

Unless you found them, moved them, then forgot where you put them...then they wouldn't be in the last place you looked, they would be in the new place you put them.

[Vicfreg 773]

My springs always wind up in the bottom of the door......

[Kris 90]

I installed my reproduction handles recently and had the exact same issue. From everything I saw online the part you are talking about that comes on reproduction handles won’t work for a 69-70. I had to take that part off of my original door handles and put them on the new ones. After they that they worked perfect. I believe it’s because the repro handles are sold as being for 65-66 & 69-70. My guess is the mechanism on the back is for a 65-66 which is why it won’t work for our cars even though the rest of the handle is the same. 

[Vicfreg 773]

Finally, success.
The Scott Drake doorhandles were supplied with the correct actuators.

I swapped them to my black doorhandles.

Picture below, of the correct, actuators, and the doorhandles.

 

[Midlife 814]

Where did you find black door handles?  Or did you simply paint them?

[Vicfreg 773]

This was not easy. 

I initially picked up a set of Ring Brothers handles at Carlisle a couple years ago. They are custom style/shape/configuration, and powder coated in a kind of subtle wrinkle black finish.  However, they are not "plug and play" type of parts, and require some slight mods to the door handle opening in the door skin.  I did a fit up test before my car was painted, but did not try it with the door handle actuators mounted.  This turned out to be a big problem, as I could not rotate the handles to get them to line up.  So, on to Plan B which was to find another set that was more "stock" in configuration.

I finally found a set of black, powder coated door handles that looked pretty close to stock configuration.  I took a chance on E Bay and ordered them.  Turns out they are super high quality, custom machined out of billet pieces.  I tried to install them and then realized that the lock actuators I had (at least 3 sets) did not work.   (I will say that none of the black handles I ordered had door lock actuators with them.)

Anyway, I ordered a set of Scott Drake "satin" door handles, and they are an excellent quality set of door handles.  I took the actuators off of them, and put them on my black billet door handles, and they worked perfectly.   

I will post the E Bay seller that I got the black handles from.  They are really nice, and well designed and thought out.   I commend them for taking the time to somehow CNC machine these out of solid billet, and powder coat them black.

So, I have at least 3 sets of nice door handles for sale if anyone wants them.....I will give you the "family" price....

 

Vic

 

 

[Mike65 475]

Hi Vic,

  Hope you & the family are doing well. Happy Thanksgiving. If you post pics of the handles I would be interested in a set since I need new ones. Do they come with the actuators or do I need to reuse my old ones?

Mike.

[Vicfreg 773]

Hi Mike, Happy Thanksgiving also.

I have several sets that are new/unused.

I can send you an email with some pictures.

I also have a bunch of extra parts I need to unload that are in my storage locker.  I can send you pics of those also.  I have all the parts I need to finish my car.   
 

I think I have your email somewhere, but send it again via the Forum IM 

[TexasEd 188]

Heck, you guys are probably close enough to meet up.