Need smooth door handle ideas...

[smooth68]

Just trying to get some ideas on door handles for my 68 r/s camaro....Body is almost complete, going for a really smooth look, firewall smoothed all marker lights filled front fender splash welded to fenders, cowl and header panels welded to front fenders (no front bumper), rear bumper shortened, shaved, de-chromed and welded to body, no body emblems....
I like the "shaved" door handle look but I dont want to do that...I would like to take the door handles from some thing like an Olds Aurora or similar and use them...I was just wondering if anyone else has done this, and I would like to see some pics if possible before I do it!....also wondering if there is any problem with the hardware, mounting, etc....

Any experieced response or pics would be greatlt appreciated!!!

[cluxford]

I have a 68 Camaro

Smoothing it all
- shaved drip rails
- filled side markers
- no badges
- flush door handles
- etc etc...much of what you are doing

I used GM door handles from the early 2000's



I can talk through how...

[wellis77]

I can talk through how...

That would be awesome if you don't mind posting. I'm curious about what is involved in this as well. I'm planning much of the same but don't want to completely shave the door handles.

[Mr.VENGEANCE]

those are SICK cluxford!

smooooth!

[cluxford]

As you can see in the pic above we cut the whole handle and surrounding panel out and weld that in. For the mechanism we leave the original latch and striker, Prob is the original handle "pulls" the mechanism up, the later model handles "push" the mechanism down. So we simply played around with switching this around. Flipped the mechanism on the back off the latch upside down. All good. Actually wasn't that hard of a job just fiddly

Here is a current pic of the car.

We have flushed the glass as well.

Interior is 100% smooth. Metal hood liner, new metal dash (custom), full metal console right through to rear parcel shelf. All switches, buttons, trans shifter, everything will be hidden under a metal panel. You will literally see only the twin Dakota Digital gauges and the steering wheel inside the car, everything else is hidden

New set of Rushforth's coming soon

[wellis77]

More pics, more pics! Some interior shots too of your dash. OR, start a build thread if you don't have one already.

Thanks for the info by the way. I need to start looking for a donor.

[cluxford]

Build thread here...but not updated for a long time
https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=39732

Photobucket link
http://s156.photobucket.com/albums/t37/cluxford/

Interior pics

[cluxford]

Sorry for the thread hijack !!

[Mr.VENGEANCE]

Hijack?.. id say that its the answer to his question.

[smooth68]

No highjack....Those handles are exactly what I was looking for, and the pics of the dash are a bonus!....I am also doing flush mount glass....What did you cut the door handles from?...are they going to be painted to match the body? I plan on painting the handles to match the body...I will be going to the salvge yard next week to try to find some....Thanks, Rob

[sunkistcamaro]

I love the door handles.
Those look like the ones on the 04 GTO body I just sold.
I have a guy picking it up Sunday. I should cut them out just in case...

[manicmechanic]

Another Plus to look for in the handles is ones without locks in them, Really finishes it out nicely with no key holes. I did this with my 06 Daytona and granted the battery is in the trunk and factory lock/unlock solenoid but you should be able to figure something out.

[PT Sportwagon]

How about the old school Buick Riv. They are thin with only a small bump sticking out that you press then pull the rest of the handle.

Tim

[msgnfg]

Robert - have you decided how much of the firewall you are going to smooth? Just delete the heater and some of the holes, leaving the factory cowl seam, or delete everything? If you can't tell, I'm struggling with a similar question...

[msgnfg]

By the way - killer '68 Chris!!

[cluxford]

Rob, I am in Australia. They are out of a 2002 Commodore. I believe all GM handles were pretty much the same at that stage. I am led to believe Impala's of around the same year model have those handles, and can confirm a Pontiac GTO (which was imported from Oz) of 2000 - 2005 have those same handles.

Yes mine will be painted to match the body

[smooth68]

Robert - have you decided how much of the firewall you are going to smooth? Just delete the heater and some of the holes, leaving the factory cowl seam, or delete everything? If you can't tell, I'm struggling with a similar question...

Neil, I will try to post a pic of the firewall...(delete everything!)

[smooth68]

Thanks Chris for all the info and pics, the GTO handles have already caught my eye but likely hard to find...However, there should be plenty of Impalas out there!

[smooth68]

Here's the firewall Neil...note the filled in cowl vents too!

[2ndgenhunter]

Another handle you might want to look at is the 90- 97 miata.