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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ Shaved my door handle

Posted by: Rand Oct 11 2005, 01:35 PM

After having my second door handle break, I decided to do something different.

I made a lever out of a piece of tubing. Drilled a hole through one end that fits over a pin that I welded to the door. Flattened the other end and smoothed it out.

user posted image

Welded a hook to the lever that goes inward. A wire loop runs between the hook and the release latch inside...

Lift up on the lever to open, the spring returns it to the bottom stop...

Weld a piece of sheet metal across the surface to shave the door handle, and the crude design is hidden for a clean look. Keeping the recess behind the door makes it convenient to reach a finger behind and lift the latch. It releases easier than ever and won't break.

user posted image

(Ok, I figure someone will ask, so... No, I don't miss the door locks. I never lock the doors. I keep valuables locked in the trunk and have a hidden ignition cut off switch for theft protection. )

Posted by: Mueller Oct 11 2005, 01:41 PM

pretty ingenious !!!!!

I like it....the wire looks a little on the thin side.....

Posted by: Rand Oct 11 2005, 01:43 PM

Yeah, the wire in the photo seems a bit hoaky. I was planning on making a nicer piece there... maybe washers welded to the ends of a piece of small rod. But it lifts so easily that my temporary wire isn't stressing at all. Maybe I'll get around to upgrading that piece later.

Posted by: URY914 Oct 11 2005, 01:48 PM

And we wonder why people say 914 owners are cheap?

Good work, the factory should have done that in the first place.

Paul

Posted by: Tobra Oct 11 2005, 02:38 PM

Frugal, not cheap.

You keep valuables in your car? Right now, my tires are the most valuable thing in the vicinity of my car.

Posted by: Air_Cooled_Nut Oct 11 2005, 02:47 PM

What do you do about securing the car (un/locking doors)? Guess you could use a remote entry system (and pray the battery never dies...).

Posted by: Air_Cooled_Nut Oct 11 2005, 02:47 PM

Oh, but neat idea!

Posted by: Rand Oct 11 2005, 03:52 PM

I don't miss the door locks. I have never locked the doors. I keep valuables locked in the trunk and have a hidden ignition cut off switch for theft protection.

Posted by: ClayPerrine Oct 11 2005, 05:23 PM

That looks really cool!!!!!

Posted by: horizontally-opposed Oct 11 2005, 05:47 PM

This is an idea with some legs on it...

Nicely done!

pete

Posted by: firstknight13 Oct 11 2005, 08:32 PM

great idea to bad VW oops i mean PORSCHE didn't think of it first

Posted by: davep Oct 11 2005, 09:16 PM

QUOTE (Air_Cooled_Nut @ Oct 11 2005, 12:47 PM)
What do you do about securing the car (un/locking doors)? Guess you could use a remote entry system (and pray the battery never dies...).

Idiot grandson did that to his Civic. Honda says you have to open the hood from inside the car. So if the cable breaks then you have to use a can-openner? I figure any self-respecting car jacker would take 15 seconds to get in. But I'm in no hurry to retrieve the car.

Posted by: mharrison Oct 11 2005, 09:27 PM

Typically a solenoid type keyless\handle-less entry system has a "Hidden" button for a manual release. Anyone who puts one of those on their car (Honda or whatever) should always incorporate this.