replacing outer door handle...how hard?

82 GT · 03-03-2004, 11:04 AM

My passenger door handle broke and you can't open the door anymore from the outside. I bought a new(metal) handle for it but I would like to know how hard a job it's going to be.
I looked in my Haynes manual but I found nothing about handles.

The factory ones look like they are pop riveted on. It looks as if I am in for some drilling.

stanger9219 · 03-03-2004, 12:41 PM

Its not hard at all...just drill out the rivets, pop of the little things holding the handle in, and put the new one in with nuts and bolts. I just put new ones on both sides cause the old ones looked like crap. Hope that helps, but the job is pretty basic.

RoadWarrior · 03-03-2004, 01:00 PM

Ya its relatively easy. Just drill out the old ones and you can either bolt in the new ones or use the rivets they come with.

richd · 03-03-2004, 06:09 PM

I did the same for my drivers side handle a few weeks ago, I ordered the heavy duty rivet gun, door handle and rivet set from 50resto.com. The gun was $25, real easy to use.

If you get the gun, don't lean into the gun after the second pump of the handles...when the rivet finally pops the gun jumps back and if you are leaning into it you'll wind up scratching the paint.

Take care,

Rich D.

03-03-2004, 11:04 AM	#1
82 GT Import Slayer Join Date: May 1999 Posts: 2,241	replacing outer door handle...how hard? My passenger door handle broke and you can't open the door anymore from the outside. I bought a new(metal) handle for it but I would like to know how hard a job it's going to be. I looked in my Haynes manual but I found nothing about handles. The factory ones look like they are pop riveted on. It looks as if I am in for some drilling. __________________ '82 GT 351W (.060)Comp Cams 274* Extreme Energy cam, ported & polished heads w/ 1.94/1.60 valves 10.3:1 flat top pistons,stealth intake, Mallory dizzy,Holley 750dp carb, BBK shorties,Flowmaster exhaust,C-4 with 3700 stall converter, B&M pro shifter,8.8 rear, 4:10's, subframes, electric fan, powermaster alternator, 4 core radiator.

03-03-2004, 12:41 PM	#2
stanger9219 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: st. louis, MO Posts: 197	Its not hard at all...just drill out the rivets, pop of the little things holding the handle in, and put the new one in with nuts and bolts. I just put new ones on both sides cause the old ones looked like crap. Hope that helps, but the job is pretty basic. __________________ 98 Cobra, CAI, Flowmasters, o/r h-pipe. 4.10s, Hurst shifter.

03-03-2004, 01:00 PM	#3
RoadWarrior Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Edmonton,Alberta,Canada Posts: 317	Ya its relatively easy. Just drill out the old ones and you can either bolt in the new ones or use the rivets they come with. __________________ Fast Company

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03-03-2004, 06:09 PM	#4
richd Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Edison, NJ, USA Posts: 125	I did the same for my drivers side handle a few weeks ago, I ordered the heavy duty rivet gun, door handle and rivet set from 50resto.com. The gun was $25, real easy to use. If you get the gun, don't lean into the gun after the second pump of the handles...when the rivet finally pops the gun jumps back and if you are leaning into it you'll wind up scratching the paint. Take care, Rich D.