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2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
How to remove and rebuild a 68 door handle
Since I couldn't find any how to threads, I figured I would post this once I figured out how to remove it. Hope it helps and feel free to add anything I miss.
Remove the inside panels first.
How to remove this. The AIM is lacking
1. First, remove the inner door panels so you can see the inner mechanism
2. Remove the clips from these rods so you can move them out of the way
3. Move the rods
4. Remove the 3 screws holding the latch mechanism. Its easier to move this now so you can get your hands in the door
5. Drop the mechanism into the door. Be careful of hitting the glass
6. Remove the nut holding the outside handle in.
7. If it doesnt pull out easily push the handle in and look to see if the pivot rod has walked out. Mine did, use needle nose pliers to slide the rod into the hinge
8. It should pull out easy after that. Then take off the 2 nuts
9. the button has to be loose first. Then pry the bezel off. It should pop off easily. Reassemblng put on ring before tightening all the way
10. Now push in the button with your thumb and rotate it downward pulling up on the inside. Hold the top and dont let go once it gets into the door. There should be shims on top of the assembly.
You can see the stack on top of the assembly
11. It will drop into the door and out the openning. Then remove the clip on the rod.
12.Clean it then remove the clip ring on the back
13.Using flathead screwdrivers in the sqare slots, pry the ring inward but keep your hand on it, its under spring pressure
Its all apart and ready to take to the locksmith to be rekeyed.
Good luck. Hope this helps all the 68 lovers out there
Last edited by Rescue Rogers; Apr 25, 2016 at 08:23 PM.
Much thanks for the very helpful post. I need to take both of my door locks out to get rekeyed to the ignition and was trying to figure out how to tackle this job. Your post is a super big help, thanks again
It does look like that long-arm broke off. One day the key would not lock the door and then I found this part inside the bottom of the door. Guess after ~45 years that metal (pot metal it seems) just fails.
Originally Posted by Rescue Rogers
I think that piece is sitting on the spring with the long arm. I'll get a pic tomorrow
20mercury, Wouldn't it be easier to re-key the ignition tumbler, instead of the door locks? If both of your door locks use the same key. Lou.
Good point and a good idea, however, I do not have any door keys at all. I was thinking since the only key I have is an ignition key, I should change out the doors. Might ask the locksmith if he could make a key from scratch for the doors. But I am guessing that the cheapest route since my labor is free, LOL's, is to rekey the removed door locks, but will check this option. Much thanks for the suggestion. Thanks again for this post too.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
Overall I think taking the door locks out has less steps than the ignition switch. You have to take off the steering wheel, drop the steering column, take the column trim off , pull the dash then get the dash back on. Unless your back there changing bulbs and other switches,the door panels are easier to deal with. Plus you can clean the lock assembly while they're out.
Overall I think taking the door locks out has less steps than the ignition switch. You have to take off the steering wheel, drop the steering column, take the column trim off , pull the dash then get the dash back on. Unless your back there changing bulbs and other switches,the door panels are easier to deal with. Plus you can clean the lock assembly while they're out.
Thanks! I am putting in Vintage Air so have to take the dash out anyway, but my locksmith said it is cheaper to just bring him the lock cylinder and he swaps out the little pieces. This is a convertible, not sure why I am worried about locking the doors anyway, ha!
BTW, they need to make this one a sticky, I printed out the whole thing and saved it for future.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
Originally Posted by 20mercury
Thanks! I am putting in Vintage Air so have to take the dash out anyway, but my locksmith said it is cheaper to just bring him the lock cylinder and he swaps out the little pieces. This is a convertible, not sure why I am worried about locking the doors anyway, ha!
BTW, they need to make this one a sticky, I printed out the whole thing and saved it for future.
Thanks again!
Mine's a convertible too, but if the tops down I can roll up the Windows and lock the doors to keep kids with sticky fingers from leaning in and grabbing some things. I also have a hardtop so its good for that.
Its just going to keep honest people honest
Last edited by Rescue Rogers; Apr 25, 2016 at 08:19 PM.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
Originally Posted by loup68
The 68 ignition tumbler comes out by using the key and a paper clip! You do not need to change out the whole ignition switch. Lou.
You're right!!!! I forgot, I had to remove mine because bubba somehow had the bezel on the outside of the switch or something. Mine was all messed up and I removed the whole thing to get it apart.
I forgot about that bundle of joy. So yes I stand corrected.
Just wanted to say MUCH THANKS to Rescue Rogers for putting together this excellent "how to" post.
Pulled out both my 68 door locks today in a couple of hours and then off to the locksmith.
I did not find any shims, but then I know these are not the original doors (Safari yellow under the LeMans blue, ). I assume the shims are needed to get the swing arm in the right spot and will make some if needed for the reinstall.
Without Rescue Rogers "how to" I am sure I would have spent countless more hours figuring out how to pull these out, so THANKS again!
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
Im glad it helped. If your locks didnt work before and now do with a key, its kind of a cool feeling. Good luck.
I editted the post to say when you put the lock back in the door,to put the chrome ring on before you tighten it. You'll see when you get to that point
Last edited by Rescue Rogers; Apr 25, 2016 at 08:25 PM.
Since I couldn't find any how to threads, I figured I would post this once I figured out how to remove it. Hope it helps and feel free to add anything I miss.
Remove the inside panels first.
How to remove this. The AIM is lacking
1. First, remove the inner door panels so you can see the inner mechanism
2. Remove the clips from these rods so you can move them out of the way
3. Move the rods
4. Remove the 3 screws holding the latch mechanism. Its easier to move this now so you can get your hands in the door
5. Drop the mechanism into the door. Be careful of hitting the glass
6. Remove the nut holding the outside handle in.
7. If it doesnt pull out easily push the handle in and look to see if the pivot rod has walked out. Mine did, use needle nose pliers to slide the rod into the hinge
8. It should pull out easy after that. Then take off the 2 nuts
9. the button has to be loose first. Then pry the bezel off. It should pop off easily. Reassemblng put on ring before tightening all the way
10. Now push in the button with your thumb and rotate it downward pulling up on the inside. Hold the top and dont let go once it gets into the door. There should be shims on top of the assembly.
You can see the stack on top of the assembly
11. It will drop into the door and out the openning. Then remove the clip on the rod.
12.Clean it then remove the clip ring on the back
13.Using flathead screwdrivers in the sqare slots, pry the ring inward but keep your hand on it, its under spring pressure
Its all apart and ready to take to the locksmith to be rekeyed.
Good luck. Hope this helps all the 68 lovers out there
THANKS MUCH I found out years back pushing the button in is crucial .I still have a scar on my thumb from not knowing that ,
Wes
How to remove and rebuild a 68 door handle
). I assume the shims are needed to get the swing arm in the right spot and will make some if needed for the reinstall.
