Outside Door Handle Slightly Screwed ......... 1980 C3 ... Help !

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No adjustment, weak spring, corroded die casting, or it's broken. Take it out, clean it and replace the spring. To take it out you should remove the latching mechanism to get to the retaining nuts. I made a roller like the roller tappets to make it work easier as you will see where the trip lever has worn into the metal over time and use causing drag.

Reply to
Dad
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Like Dad said, weak spring or corroded housing. The housing clearance is so little that the corrosion warps the bucket enough to hit the flapper.

You can grind out some of the housing, but then it corrodes more, or you can grind the edge of the flapper, which is less noticeable. If this is good enough for you, then you can grind a bit more clearance and have them rechromed so they don't corrode again for awhile.

A helper spring is sold that inserts under the flapper but on warped housings, it really doesn't help.

Retaining nuts are inside the door and not that easy to reach, of course. It makes you wonder how they ever assembled these cars in a day or two.

The best is to replace the handle with a reproduction. Over here, the Genuine GM is about $115, USA reproduction is $64, and the import reproduction is $22 from Dr. Rebuild. Other places will have similar prices.

Try taking it out, grind the edge, and see if that helps.

Good luck

Reply to
Tom in Missouri

Hi People,

Got a 1980 vette, my dream car from the 80's, got lots of work to do on her, but a labor of love anyway........ So said......

Pending problem is....

Passenger door handle (I'm in Australia, so you people in the States, this would be the drivers door !) Anyway, the outside handle was a bit temperamental at times...... so.... I lubricated the mechanism, handles and whatever else was viewable with grease, oil and whatever, and both inside and outside handles rock like Elvis.... However.... After the great lubrication fiasco... The inside handle works like a charm, but the outside handle doesn't want to play..... No folks, it now only returns to 3 quarters up and sits looking stupid half-way in and refuses to open the door, but the inside handle works a treat and from the inside is now the only way I can open the damn door....

Help !!!

I did what I thought was the right thing for my beloved baby, but she not only became more temperamental, but also broke even more... Anyone with a similar experience (and how you rectified it) with elaboration on how you remedied the problem will greatly be appreciated...

P.S. There's some type of adjustment on the lever from the handle (inside the door), but, how the 'ell do you get the 'andle off... It's like working on one of those "magic cube" thingies that we had in the 80's except I worked that one out, but removing the outside door handle goes beyond that....

Thanks fellow Corvette Lovers

Paradox

Reply to
Paradox

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