Quality door handles?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 173
Likes: 1
From: Stowe Vermont
Quality door handles?
Ok, so I need to buy new outside door handles for my 74, along with new rocker moldings, and a full lock and ignition set. Some people have told me that some Asian door handle sets can be pretty low quality, is this the case? Or does someone recommend a good site to buy them from? (other than mid-america, corvette central)
Thanks
Thanks
TheCorvetteBen
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,987
Likes: 144
From: Van Alstyne, TX
Ok, so I need to buy new outside door handles for my 74, along with new rocker moldings, and a full lock and ignition set. Some people have told me that some Asian door handle sets can be pretty low quality, is this the case? Or does someone recommend a good site to buy them from? (other than mid-america, corvette central)
Thanks
Thanks
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,223
Likes: 666
From: Northeast
Got mine from Zip-corvette.com. Supporting vendor and was satisfied. I bought the $70 one.
If you do a search this forum for door handles there will be plenty of reading. Included is this: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...r-handles.html
My suggestion is if the handle is broken make sure you keep the window down. If the passenger side handle breaks there will be no way to get in.
PM sent.
If you do a search this forum for door handles there will be plenty of reading. Included is this: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...r-handles.html
My suggestion is if the handle is broken make sure you keep the window down. If the passenger side handle breaks there will be no way to get in.
PM sent.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 255
Likes: 3
I just replaced my door handles in the 72 vette with the cheaper ones. After they were in and I saw the didnt work like the originals did I ordered the good ones and replaced them again. The cheaper ones dont spring back all the way when you let go of the handle and they are made with lots of less quality. IMO spend the extra so you dont have 2 sets like I do!
Rodney
Rodney
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,170
Likes: 4,245
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi,
My opinion is that the Chinese are pretty good at making a part that looks like the original, but doesn't work as well; in the case of the door handle, they couldn't get the look right either.
Regards,
Alan
My opinion is that the Chinese are pretty good at making a part that looks like the original, but doesn't work as well; in the case of the door handle, they couldn't get the look right either.
Regards,
Alan
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,189
Likes: 111
From: Tolland CT
I have a pair I bought long ago at Carlisle, suspect they're cheapo reproductions. When I went to install them I noticed the contour was wrong, no way they would seat on the door as the originals. I kept the originals on the car, put the repros back in a box..
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,201
Likes: 2
From: Frederick Md
I now only use the 70 or so dollare ones... BUT I never had any problem with the looks or the functioning of the cheaper 30 diollar ones...what I had a problem with is that they use EXTREMELY thin chrome that after a year (at most) you can see the bronze color comming thru ...
Bottom line I do not see any reason not to use the cheap ones on the passengers side of the car if you want to save a few bucks..BUT for an additional 40 bucks you can get ones that have a more durable chrome finish...you get what you pay for USUALLY anyway
Bob G
Bottom line I do not see any reason not to use the cheap ones on the passengers side of the car if you want to save a few bucks..BUT for an additional 40 bucks you can get ones that have a more durable chrome finish...you get what you pay for USUALLY anyway
Bob G
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
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,170
Likes: 4,245
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi BobG,
I agree about the poor chrome plating on the imported handle, but I also find that the shape of the 'flapper' is poorly cut... it doesn't match the shape of the bezel.
Regards,
Alan
I agree about the poor chrome plating on the imported handle, but I also find that the shape of the 'flapper' is poorly cut... it doesn't match the shape of the bezel.
Regards,
Alan
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,022
Likes: 33
From: Lokeren, Belgium
with Alan, that's the reason why I went to the trouble of taking them out and install the more expensive GM repro's, although when I received them there was a small portion which already showed the bronze. Being in Belgium it's nearly impossible to send it back (cost wise).If I would have known, I would have bought a nice pair of second hand / NOS ones.
Nick
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Virginia
The way I looked at it was how much of a pain in the backside is it to take off the door panels, remove the sound deading material, get into the door frame and replace an inexpensive door latch that might pit or yellow show through? Would me saving $30-$40 dollars matter if that happened? Nope.
For me, it was an easy decision to purchase the GM repro door handles.
For me, it was an easy decision to purchase the GM repro door handles.
