View Single Post
  #742  
Old 09-17-2017, 04:12 AM
Gojeep's Avatar
Gojeep Gojeep is offline
MetalShaper of the Month March 2015, March 2020,, June 2022,Aug 2023
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Eastern Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 2,986
Default


Searched for a while for replacement door handles to suit new bear claw latches which are much safer than the old 70 year old stock ones.


Needed extra clearance for the handle link inside to clear the window, so decided that raising the mounting area to the height of the ribs worked best. The new handle didn't fit between them anyway.


Made the patch clear the old hole and move it inwards at the same time.


Welded in. Moving the handle inwards means the mounting pad lines up with the end of the existing ribs and moved the link over the glass rather than on top of the glass channel for more clearance.


After hours of searching I ended up choosing some die-cast chrome handles I had spare imported for my XJ Jeep Cherokee to replace the plastic ones it had.


Used the handle's gasket to mark out the hole needed.


Holes cutout and hole drilled for the stud at the other end.


Need to build a mounting pad for this end too and do something about the centre rib.


I thought shortening the rib was the best thing as gives more clearance for the knuckles.


I had cut a slot up the middle of the rib and then hammered it down do get rid of the excess material. The slot closed right up once flat, so then just welded it closed. A new mounting pad for the handle will be added after cutting out the area in the same way as the other end.


As it was hard to planish the area flat after welding, so I made up this dolly to suit out of some scrap.


Laying the door over on a trestle, I could just hammer down on the dolly to flatten the two mounting pads.


Think the size and squareness of the handle suits the door.


The slightly bigger size suits the proportions of the bigger than stock door as well.


Can see how the rib removal behind the handle works well for the knuckle clearance.
__________________
Marcus
aka. Gojeep
Victoria, Australia
http://willyshotrod.com

Invention is a combination of brains and materials.
The more brains you use, the less materials you need.
Reply With Quote