Venting about the Door

[Bob Chadwick]

I started what I thought was going to be a fairly easy project, rebuilding the windows and adding power door locks. I anticipated the windows would be the hardest part of the project. Turns out that with the exception of finding and waiting for one or two parts, I was able to do the windows fairly easily.

I finally got the electric door locks in. Due to tight spaces, I had a hard time placing the actuator as it would hit the door panel when I put it on. I moved it forward and it cleared. I put it together and tried it and the rod from the actuator was striking the door panel at the point it connected to the locking rod. Moved it back some. The rod was then binding when the locking rod went forward and up and the door once again wouldn't lock. I was finally able to take some strapping tape and make a "loose" fit on the attachment to the locking rod and everything was working.

I was making a final test to make sure everything was going to work when the outside door handle went all the way down and wouldn't come up. I then heard a clunk in the bottom of the door. Turns out the pot metal where the door actuator attaches broke off. Talk about a pain to get those two bolts off so that I could pull the handle.

Tomorrow I am off to The Last Detail for door handles. I guess I'll replace both while I have the doors open.

A quick question. I'm assuming that the door handle comes as a complete unit. It appears from the AIM that the actuator rod simply slips through the hole in the back of the handle. Am I missing anything?

Bob

 

[red70vette]

If you think it was fun removing the nuts on the door handle just wait. Your fun has only just begun. Getting them back on is perhaps impossible. Find someone with the hands of a six year old and pay them whatever they want. It is money well spent.