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Need some help. I’m trying to take the door panel off of my 1969. I got all of the screws out except for the one in the bottom of the handle. It would move about a quarter of a turn but wouldn’t budge past that. It must be cross threaded or something. I’ve started to drill on it but I’m not making good progress keeping the bit centered. Any ideas on how I can get this out? I'm losing my mind!!
while turning the screwdriver carefully pull on the door pull
Well it wouldn't turn, that was the problem. I've already started drilling on it so the head is messed up now. Looking for other ideas besides drilling it out. The thing must be made of titanium because I've drilled through steel plate faster than this thing.
Hi H69,
If it's still the original screw here's what you're dealing with.
Make sure that the head of the screw hasn't pulled through the metal reinforcement in the door pull.
That will insure that when you're pulling on the pull you're putting pressure on the screw to back it's way out of the door frame.
Just read your latest post... sounds like you're going to need to drill the head of the screw out.
I believe you when you say how hard it is.
Regards,
Alan
Bubba used a screw that was too long and the regulator hit and bent it over. Just drill it out.
When reinstalling use a #25 bit (5/32) to make a new hole.
Use a 10/24 tap for to make new threads.
I forget the length of the proper screw, maybe someone else will tell you.
Hi,
The original screw was an interesting one.
You can see the tip is tapered, but it also has a 'slit' cut into it.
When it was installed in the hole in the door frame the slit acted as a tap and threaded the steel frame as the screw was installed the first time.
Once those threads got stripped... folks used what ever was handy... even a wood screw.
Regards,
Alan
I know just what you mean on that screw hardness. I don't know what they used in the factory but sometimes you run into one that is ridiculous. I had to drill one out on a door trim piece on my '68. The normal hardware store drill bits wouldn't faze it. I got several special alloy coated drill bits from the tool room where I worked (an aerospace machine shop) and I went thru 6 of those before I got it out. Sometimes they are not that difficult but then you run into one of those that is off the charts. :-/
peterbuilt you were right. It was probably Bent from the regulator. The threads were cross threaded too. I guess I was doing better on the screw head than I thought.
02-17-2018, 01:48 PM
Door panel screw won’t come out
