Door handle mechanism broke...

[Ala75Vette]

On my '75, the passenger side door handle on the outside is 'broke' (it will not open the door). The inside door handle does work, however, so I can open the door from the inside, just not from the outside. I removed the inside door panel and poked around some, but there does not seem to be any 'easy' way to get to the mechanism that connects the outer door handle to the door release mechanism without having to: 1) torch a hole in the door; or 2) remove everything (electric window stuff, etc.), then put it back together again (and hope it works as well as it did before I took it apart.... ). Any ideas or help...?

Frank

 

[69MyWay]

Frank there is no easy fix. Actually, I have had these handles in and out quite a few times, and am use to it now.

Run the window up with the door panel off, and remove that large metal pan that is covering the power window motor. That will give you more access.

There is only two bolt/studs holding the handle in, and a rod that goes down to the handle mechanism.

My thought is the handle either broke, or the rod fell off the hole pin.

Call Paragon, Zip, Mid America, etc. for a door rod snap/tab kit. The little metal tab might have just fallen off the rod allowing the rod to pop off the lever.

Good luck.

 

[Ala75Vette]

Thanks, Chris (and let me say I'm honored to have elicited your advice)! I'll take a look at it this weekend and see if I can help it out. It's annoying at the very least, and since it distracts from my ability to be 'chivalrous' (aka opening doors for my passengers), I feel compelled to fix it. Plus, I'm an engineer, so I'll obsess about it until it's fixed, anyway! Thanks!

Frank

 

[red70vette]

I agree with vmrod. Unless you have access to some tiny hands it is virtually impossible to get both nuts on the bottom of the door handle. I suspect there are many vettes running around with only 1 nut holding them on like mine.

Replacements are relatively cheap so it really doesn't pay to have them rechromed.