Replacing outer door handles - preference??
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 196
Likes: 0
From: Vero Beach Florida
Replacing outer door handles - preference??
I'm getting ready to rebuild the inner doors of my '81 - replacing window gears, wiring, etc. I've a question about the outer handles. Mine are in really poor condition and sometimes I can't open the door they droop so bad.
Mid America has "replacement" handles for $49.99 a pair while the OEM handles are $300!
Has anybody had any experience - good or bad - with either?
Thanks in advance for your input!
...Alan K.
Mid America has "replacement" handles for $49.99 a pair while the OEM handles are $300!
Has anybody had any experience - good or bad - with either?
Thanks in advance for your input!
...Alan K.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,336
Likes: 1
From: North Bellmore Ny
St. Jude Donor '09
on my 77 I had the cheap replacements & on my 69 the oem's. The cheap ones look goodnew but after about 5 yeas and alot of use you can see the chrome is very thin and rubs off slowly (no chips) you just see the yellowing around the wear (this took about 3-1/2 years to the first signs to show) The oems have showen anything and from my records the have been on the car since 99
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 1
From: grand prairie texas
There has been a lot of discussions about door handles. I purchased ecklers reproduction handles. They fit perfect and look perfect. They probably wont last as long as the factory handles but my car will never be a daily driver or be exposed to the elements or abused so I think my reproduction handles will fit my needs.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 196
Likes: 0
From: Vero Beach Florida
Thanks for the replies!
Shave 'em? I'm not ready to devote that much time and effort, I think 'Vette handles look pretty "custom" as is. Thanks for the suggestion!
Oil 'em up? Tried that. believe me - they're shot!
I've gotta switch 'em out. Wife couldn't open the door the other day. I'm just trying to justify spending an extra $250 for OEM when replacements might work just fine! Looking for pros and cons.
It's not that I'm being cheap - I just wanna be smart!
...Alan K.
Shave 'em? I'm not ready to devote that much time and effort, I think 'Vette handles look pretty "custom" as is. Thanks for the suggestion!
Oil 'em up? Tried that. believe me - they're shot!
I've gotta switch 'em out. Wife couldn't open the door the other day. I'm just trying to justify spending an extra $250 for OEM when replacements might work just fine! Looking for pros and cons.
It's not that I'm being cheap - I just wanna be smart!
...Alan K.
Last edited by VeroL81; Jul 10, 2008 at 09:23 PM. Reason: Clarification...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,247
Likes: 471
From: Glen Allen, VA
Wow, the price has really shot up on the OEM replacements over the last 2 years. I went for the OEM ones 2 years ago because they were about $70 apiece as opposed to about $40 for the cheaper ones. I did it beacuse everyone said the better ones would last a lot longer. At $300though, I think I would have thought long and hard about it.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Racer
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 372
Likes: 11
From: Abilene TX
My car is all apart now and I am going to also replace the outside door handles. I bought the cheap handles and then read about problems and such with them. I then bought a OEM pair off of ebay. More expensive yes, and I could not tell a significant difference between the repo and OEM. Might be I have a better piece of mind, as the door handles take soom work and one installation would be enough. Are you still confused on what to get? So was I and the opinions here suggest to do either one.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 196
Likes: 0
From: Vero Beach Florida
Confused? Yup!
EBay might be a good resource - as long as I don't wind-up getting a set that's in as bad condition as mine!
Or, I may just buy the repo set and compare them carefully to my originals during the install. If they look or feel cheesy, or install poorly I'll spring for OEM.
Sound like a plan?
...Alan K.
EBay might be a good resource - as long as I don't wind-up getting a set that's in as bad condition as mine!
Or, I may just buy the repo set and compare them carefully to my originals during the install. If they look or feel cheesy, or install poorly I'll spring for OEM.
Sound like a plan?
...Alan K.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 466
Likes: 4
From: Rockford Illinois
Door Handles
I just talked to my Chevy Dealer. I can get OEM handles -
PN#14011819 126.95
PN#14011820 124.07
If you can spare the $, I would get GM. I've done plenty of these and had more than my share of trouble with aftermarket.
F.Z.
PN#14011819 126.95
PN#14011820 124.07
If you can spare the $, I would get GM. I've done plenty of these and had more than my share of trouble with aftermarket.
F.Z.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 196
Likes: 0
From: Vero Beach Florida
Fred,
That's good pricing.
Our local Chevy dealer quoted me (after my discount) $143.42 each. They'd need to be ordered - probably from your dealership, eh??
If I got 'em from your dealship S/H would most likely be $30-40 so it's a wash.
I'm going to order repros from MidAmerica and compare 'em to what I have on the car - they have a good return policy. Heck, since the car's almost 30 years old for all I know I may have old aftermarkets on the car already!!
Thanks again, all, for your comments!
...Alan K.
That's good pricing.
Our local Chevy dealer quoted me (after my discount) $143.42 each. They'd need to be ordered - probably from your dealership, eh??
If I got 'em from your dealship S/H would most likely be $30-40 so it's a wash.
I'm going to order repros from MidAmerica and compare 'em to what I have on the car - they have a good return policy. Heck, since the car's almost 30 years old for all I know I may have old aftermarkets on the car already!!
Thanks again, all, for your comments!
...Alan K.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 427
Likes: 32
From: North Alabama
St. Jude Donor '24-'26
Hey VeroL81, take a look at Corvette Central. They offer "American made door handles utilizing original GM tooling". Their price might still be under $100. I bought a set from them about 6 months ago and have been very happy with them so far. I can open my doors with just a thumb and one finger 
