1. I have a Brookville body with (I ***ume) their door latches. I ordered some door handles from them and they sent me some Vintique #A-702350. Real nice pieces, BTW. Anyway, as you can see in the pics, they protrude pretty far into the door. About an 1-1/2". You would actually be jamming your ribs into them. So, what do I have here? I could cut them off but I don't wanna jump the gun here and not be able to reverse my actions- only to find out I needed something different. 2. The other thing is, there are no holes in the door skins to accommodate mounting the handles to the doors. Ok, no problem. Just drill some. Well, in the mechanism, there's nothing for them to screw to. Do I just need to weld some nuts in there? I could make this work (I think) but I don't want to go hacking some expensive pcs. to find out that I have the wrong door locks, wrong handles or that I just needed to buy a simple pc. Sadly, Brookville's tech support was less than helpful. I don't think the fella had a clue as to what I have. In his defense, they may have come from another place. Heck, I'm not 100% sure this thing is a Brookville. Who is the other company making Model A bodies? I emailed Vintique with the same pics and questions. Here's their response (he tried to be helpful): Hi Jeff, I have reviewed the Vintique master samples, and find that the shaft length of the handle is the specified length that Vintique Inc. has manufactured for 20+ years. By your photos, it sure looks too long, however I have nothing different to send you. I suggest to finish your project by cutting to length, and then grinding the relief on four sides to fit the interior handle, as well as drill and tap the 10-32 thread deeper. Be sure to account for the upholstery, and perhaps use the 1933 roadster inside door handle bezel (pn. 40-48139-BC) along with the A-702400-C 1929/33 inside door handle for a neat finished look. I hope this helps. Thank you, David Odegard Vintique Inc.
I have cut them down before. I always figured different models might require different lengths. Original A ones also had a groove near the end (I don't remember what for, I havn't had one apart in a long time) and I remember filing that groove into repops after cutting them down.
Just cut them, they only come in one lenth fits all. As far as mounting them I would probably use some threaded nut-zerts or whatever you call them. Or like you said, weld in some nuts.
I think the cutting will need to be done after upholstery or at least panels are in, so interior handle ends up in the right spot, ideally not within your ribcage...
Thanks guys....just making sure I'm not crazy....well...you know.... Looks like I'll get out the hack saw and the 10-32 tap.... Upholstery......is this something new? Is that the stuff street rodders put in their cars......oh, ok...
Upholstery--that's the sheet of warped cardboard on the door, and the big block of wadded fuzz under the seat springs with the 800 mice living in it. Deluxe upholstery tip: Tear the cardboard offa the door, and sit on it so you don't get all those nasty puncture wounds from the seat springs.
Door handle situation, the door handles you received were the universal exterior door handle made by Vintique. They fit Model A roadster to 33 Ford roadster. In the 33 roadster the shaft proturdes thru the door and the interior door handle goes on the square drive and is held on with a machine screw. Using these handles on 32 Fords the door shank is not required to be as long. You can simply mark the shaft about an 1/8' after it sticks out of the latch and cut it off. This is different than even a Model A as the 32 has a interior door handle on a remote controler in the middle of the door interior panel. As for fastening the the handle to the body, it apperars the body was constructed with the smooth door skins for appearence. Technically there is a reinforcer with 2 "D "nuts spot welded into the door skin in the exterior handle position and the door handle is fastened with 2 oval head machine screws. The door handle does not fasten to the latch. Since your door skin does not have this reinforcement it is advised that you install the handle cut the shaft to length. Instead of installing the handle with sheetmetal screws that could potentially loosen, machine screws should be used. Taping the door skin is not sufficient as the metal is to thin for threading. Install the handle and mark the position of the screw holes, remember on a roadster the screws are perpendicular to the belt line. There are a number of possiblities in fastening the handle, from making a reinforcement plate to simply installing a washer and nut and J-B welding them in place on the interior door skin. In any case what ever method you use you want to avoid any fastener that could easily loosen and damage the paint or pull out of the skin when one of your buddies yanks the door. Good luck on you project
Excellent points!!!! I was going to tack weld something on the latch........I think I'll make a pc of 1/8" metal to fit inside the door and tack weld the nuts to them.....thus reinforcing the door AND giving me a place to screw the handle to..... thanks!! you always have GREAT info too!!!
Roadster doors thin, Coupe and sedan doors thick. Got to have room for gl***. Beyond that, pay attention to **** Spadaro.
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