How to fix door handles?

Chris_H · 05-10-2001, 01:28 AM

Ok it finallyhappened to me. A buddy of mine was getting in the passenger side the other day and busted my door handle. How do I go about changing these out? I went ahead and bought both the driver and passenger side. From the looks of it they have rivets in them. Anybody had the opportunity to change a few of these? Any help is greatly appreciated. Hoping to do this saturday.

Chris

LX XLR8R · 05-10-2001, 08:03 AM

roll up the window, pop the door cover off, drill the rivits..you will see how it comes off..you need a larger rivit gun to put it back on..i dont rember what size..or you can go ghetto and use bolts and nuts..either or works

------------------
1987 black notch(ex 4 banger)
DSS 306 w/ main support...Elderbrock 6028 heads..gt-40 intake..24# injectors...70 mm tb..77 pro-m...accel 300+..mac full legnth..tremec w/ pro5oh...full MAC exhaust,off road h-pipe,long tubes, catback...ron davis radiator..subframes, control arms...CFDF II..o yea holley FPR sucks..dont buy one..
AIM=onesillynotch

bigredstang · 05-10-2001, 08:03 AM

I had both of mine fixed at different times. It cost $50 the first time and $130 the next. Dont know why but it really POed me.

Greg

05-10-2001, 08:58 AM

I wouldn't say putting bolts in is ghetto. Since I went to every tool supply store around to find a rivet gun big enought to put the rivets that came with the door handle. I used bolts on my buddy's car. No one ever sees the bolts.

Did you buy metal or plastic ones? My buddy ordered the metal ones from Texas mustang parts. I don't think they will ever break.

DemonGT · 05-10-2001, 09:55 AM

i have one plactic and one metal one on my car..i used bolts for both..never have a prob yet

------------------
'91 GT,91K,T-5,air silencer removed,racing clutch(previous owner put in so dont know what kind),K&N air filter,Aiwa deck,power acoustic amp,2 12" pianeers,Mac long tubes,Cat-back,off road H,FMS 9mm wires,Competition gauges,C&L 76mm MAF

Future Mods:3.73's,Pro 5.0,Shifter knob,E303 cam,cobra intake,65mm tb
ICQ#35670781

jimberg · 05-10-2001, 10:14 AM

If you use bolts, be sure to use those lock nuts with the nylon inserts. Or use thread locker.

Chris_H · 05-10-2001, 04:32 PM

Ok, as far as drilling the rivets, did you guys do that from the inside or the outside of the door? I bought a pair of metal handles from Late Model Restoration Supply for $29, they paid the shipping since I was a first time customer. Thanx for all the replys.

Chris

DaveR_GT · 05-10-2001, 08:34 PM

Drill from the outside. Be carefull though, I think the center pop stud from the rivets is steel while the rivet itself is aluminum. Your drill will want to walk off center.

Try and get Low Head Socket Cap screws or Button Head Socket Cap screws either from a tool shop or bolt supply store. (I used Low Heads becase that is what the shop had) They may or may not be easy for you to find but I'll bet its easier than trying to find a 1/4" rivet and gun to fit it.

------------------
'92 GT conv.
TFS heads, GT40, Powerdyne 9#, AOD, 3.73...

JD93GT · 05-10-2001, 10:28 PM

Its simple, ya dont need any kind of special parts other then the right size of bolt to fit through the opening, and big enough head to grab the door, and a thread locking nut, if the bolts you buy are too long and dont allow for proper window travel, then cut them down.

------------------
'93 Gt, Stock as a rock, but plan an AOD to T-5z swap, steeda tri-ax shifter, 3.73's, cobra intake, gt-40 irons, e303 cam, 1.7 rr's, bbk headers, off road h-pipe, flowmasters cat back, msd ignition, blaster coil, mac cold air box (fenderwell), eibach springs, silver cobra r's, etc...

90dpscoupe · 05-10-2001, 10:43 PM

Like someone mentioned, they are cheap from a texas stang parts, i got mine from the ford dealer for 50$ yikes!, and a body shop put it on for 20$ and they had the rivet gun, and didnt even take the panel off

------------------
90 lx coupe: Mac cold air fenderwell, accel supercoil,advncd ignition,3-core radiatr, FMS alum D/S, Black magic fan, 3.27grs, 3chbr flows.
Best time: 13.9116(on 225/60/15 firehawks)
Best mph: 98.17
Best 60': 1.9607

next mods: subframes, mac h-pipe

SHaFT7 · 05-11-2001, 01:07 AM

one of mine broke over winter, so i replaced both...the car already had bolts on it, so i just used em again

no probs as of yet

------------------
SHaFTed

91GT, Flows, dumps, 70MM BBK TB, K&N, Hurst short throw, T5, 17" Lexani Roma wheels, 235/40/R17 on front, 255/45/R17 on back, mach1 hood, LX tail lights, bright red!

Chris_H · 05-11-2001, 08:23 AM

Great thanx for all the help! Once again everybody on this board has helped me out with a problem that I've had. I appreciate all the replies. I will try to get this done today and let you guys know how it went.

Chris

05-10-2001, 01:28 AM	#1
Chris_H Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: New Mexico Posts: 488	How to fix door handles? Ok it finallyhappened to me. A buddy of mine was getting in the passenger side the other day and busted my door handle. How do I go about changing these out? I went ahead and bought both the driver and passenger side. From the looks of it they have rivets in them. Anybody had the opportunity to change a few of these? Any help is greatly appreciated. Hoping to do this saturday. Chris

05-10-2001, 08:03 AM	#2
LX XLR8R Dirk Diggler Join Date: Feb 1999 Location: SLOATSBURG, NY Posts: 1,931	roll up the window, pop the door cover off, drill the rivits..you will see how it comes off..you need a larger rivit gun to put it back on..i dont rember what size..or you can go ghetto and use bolts and nuts..either or works ------------------ 1987 black notch(ex 4 banger) DSS 306 w/ main support...Elderbrock 6028 heads..gt-40 intake..24# injectors...70 mm tb..77 pro-m...accel 300+..mac full legnth..tremec w/ pro5oh...full MAC exhaust,off road h-pipe,long tubes, catback...ron davis radiator..subframes, control arms...CFDF II..o yea holley FPR sucks..dont buy one.. AIM=onesillynotch

05-10-2001, 08:03 AM	#3
bigredstang Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: lincoln, NE Posts: 80	I had both of mine fixed at different times. It cost $50 the first time and $130 the next. Dont know why but it really POed me. Greg

05-10-2001, 08:58 AM	#4
88GT5.013.02 Guest Posts: n/a	I wouldn't say putting bolts in is ghetto. Since I went to every tool supply store around to find a rivet gun big enought to put the rivets that came with the door handle. I used bolts on my buddy's car. No one ever sees the bolts. Did you buy metal or plastic ones? My buddy ordered the metal ones from Texas mustang parts. I don't think they will ever break.

05-10-2001, 09:55 AM	#5
DemonGT Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 879	i have one plactic and one metal one on my car..i used bolts for both..never have a prob yet ------------------ '91 GT,91K,T-5,air silencer removed,racing clutch(previous owner put in so dont know what kind),K&N air filter,Aiwa deck,power acoustic amp,2 12" pianeers,Mac long tubes,Cat-back,off road H,FMS 9mm wires,Competition gauges,C&L 76mm MAF Future Mods:3.73's,Pro 5.0,Shifter knob,E303 cam,cobra intake,65mm tb ICQ#35670781

05-10-2001, 10:14 AM	#6
jimberg Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1998 Location: Rogers, MN Posts: 2,089	If you use bolts, be sure to use those lock nuts with the nylon inserts. Or use thread locker.

05-10-2001, 04:32 PM	#7
Chris_H Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: New Mexico Posts: 488	Ok, as far as drilling the rivets, did you guys do that from the inside or the outside of the door? I bought a pair of metal handles from Late Model Restoration Supply for $29, they paid the shipping since I was a first time customer. Thanx for all the replys. Chris

05-10-2001, 08:34 PM	#8
DaveR_GT Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: W. Springfield, PA Posts: 65	Drill from the outside. Be carefull though, I think the center pop stud from the rivets is steel while the rivet itself is aluminum. Your drill will want to walk off center. Try and get Low Head Socket Cap screws or Button Head Socket Cap screws either from a tool shop or bolt supply store. (I used Low Heads becase that is what the shop had) They may or may not be easy for you to find but I'll bet its easier than trying to find a 1/4" rivet and gun to fit it. ------------------ '92 GT conv. TFS heads, GT40, Powerdyne 9#, AOD, 3.73...

05-10-2001, 10:28 PM	#9
JD93GT Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: San Diego, Ca USA Posts: 52	Its simple, ya dont need any kind of special parts other then the right size of bolt to fit through the opening, and big enough head to grab the door, and a thread locking nut, if the bolts you buy are too long and dont allow for proper window travel, then cut them down. ------------------ '93 Gt, Stock as a rock, but plan an AOD to T-5z swap, steeda tri-ax shifter, 3.73's, cobra intake, gt-40 irons, e303 cam, 1.7 rr's, bbk headers, off road h-pipe, flowmasters cat back, msd ignition, blaster coil, mac cold air box (fenderwell), eibach springs, silver cobra r's, etc...

05-10-2001, 10:43 PM	#10
90dpscoupe Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: sanantonio, Tx, usa Posts: 1,407	Like someone mentioned, they are cheap from a texas stang parts, i got mine from the ford dealer for 50$ yikes!, and a body shop put it on for 20$ and they had the rivet gun, and didnt even take the panel off ------------------ 90 lx coupe: Mac cold air fenderwell, accel supercoil,advncd ignition,3-core radiatr, FMS alum D/S, Black magic fan, 3.27grs, 3chbr flows. Best time: 13.9116(on 225/60/15 firehawks) Best mph: 98.17 Best 60': 1.9607 next mods: subframes, mac h-pipe

05-11-2001, 01:07 AM	#11
SHaFT7 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Lawrence, KS, USA Posts: 169	one of mine broke over winter, so i replaced both...the car already had bolts on it, so i just used em again no probs as of yet ------------------ SHaFTed 91GT, Flows, dumps, 70MM BBK TB, K&N, Hurst short throw, T5, 17" Lexani Roma wheels, 235/40/R17 on front, 255/45/R17 on back, mach1 hood, LX tail lights, bright red!

05-11-2001, 08:23 AM	#12
Chris_H Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: New Mexico Posts: 488	Great thanx for all the help! Once again everybody on this board has helped me out with a problem that I've had. I appreciate all the replies. I will try to get this done today and let you guys know how it went. Chris