Most of the work is done

[TWINRAY]

Getting ready for the SVRA event at The Glen (a spectator )- a 325 mile one way adventure. The '69 was in storage from 1989 to last summer. Did a bunch of stuff then and finished at 9pm before leaving before Labor Day . Didn't even do a shakedown run, not because I didn't want to but didn't have time. Got nervious when I heard any "new" noise and probably heard noises that weren't there:crazy . No problems except a nasty pull to the right. In the past week have replaced:
tie rod ends
put in VBP HD tie rod shafts and rear camber rods
PS valve, cylinder and pump - hated those leaksad
Front Ball joints, even though done a long time ago, have only 20K miles on them and I did control arm bushings in 1978. Next summer will put poly bushings and new ball joints - not enough time now. Need to do a prelim alignment tonight before driving to the shop tomorrow. Rears are toed out and the fronts are toed in. Got rid of the pull anyway . Got two more weeks to do minor stuff: hood cables, door handle passenger side, maybe half shaft u-joints but they should be OK. Regards to all



ps. Anyone ever replace the door handle? if so , HITH do you get the rod thats inside the door (that of course you can't get at) off the old door handle so you can put the new one on:bang

 

[red70vette]

The end of the rod is held on the lock mechanism with a retaining clip. Unlatch it and remove the handle with the rod attached.

There is an access panel cover that can be removed and allows you to get your arm and hand up to the lock mechanism. It helps to have long skinny arms but it can be done with other style arms it just takes a lot more patience and contorsions. Trust me I know.

It is impossible to get both nuts back on the door handle. I think it can be done if you remove the lock mechanism but I don't know if it is worth the considerable effort. I will bet that half the vettes over 15 years old only have 1 nut holding each door handle on.

 

[TWINRAY]

Hiya red70
My problem is attaching the rod to the new door handle and then trying to get the new handle with the rod back into the door. The other problem is after I got the clip off of the old rod, the rod (male end) didn't seem to be able to be pushed off. I started this job last year but gave up and now it's time to try again:eek
I like your comment "it's impossible...." I think Murphy supervises all Corvette restorations :L

 

[red70vette]

If I recall the rod attaches to the door handle without any clips. The end of the rod has a double bend in it and that is inserted into the hole in the handle and it hangs straight down. It can only be inserted 2 ways. Just carefully lower the handle into place. If you have the rod in wrong it will be far away from the lock mechanism if it is in right it will be right there to be hooked up with the clip.

 

[TWINRAY]

Horray:s I now have a working passenger door handle. The problem that I was having was the clip that held the rod (not the side that goes in the handle but the other side) on and getting it off. I finally managed to get it off - it had to be slid off.
Only attached the front nutt to hold the handle on. The rear nut should have been attached first. When you attach the front first, you don't have room to get the rear nut on. You have to start the rear nut on the threads of the handle before the handle is fully inserted in the door - screw the rear nut fully on - and then do the front nut. It was 10:30 last night and I wasn't going to take everything apart to do the other bolt. It's tight and not going anywhere with the one nut. Scratch another BB job off the list