53 Exterior door handle install
 

I recently purchased reproduction exterior door handles for my
truck and I have some info and improvements that might help
others going this route.

I bought mine from Classic Chevy Parts (#18-107 for 52-59).

Overall, I am pretty happy with these handles. The chrome is nice
and handles for both doors are included. It includes just one push
button,the non-keyed one, so you need to buy the push button lock set.
I purchased their lock set kit that that included ignition, glove box
latch and BOTH door handles, all keyed the same. ( #53-471 for 52-53).

These two item #s will complete both doors.

next posts will be some parts I improved....

Re: 53 Exterior door handle install
 

Good info..

Re: 53 Exterior door handle install
 

when you will be using only one keyed button, you will
need to use the supplied push rod, but shorten it to the length
of the original.

here they are side by side.

I didn't use the non-keyed one since I wanted both doors to
have keys.

Re: 53 Exterior door handle install
 

The kit comes with new internal hardware and springs as well
as a new o-ring that goes around the push button.

I felt the supplied o-ring was too small in thickness, so I
installed mine with a larger one.It fits better and took up
some of the slop in the button.

Re: 53 Exterior door handle install
 

The lock set seems to key twist OK, but the mechanism is too
loose in the barrel of the handle. It allows the button to occasionally
jam up on the internal guide ring. Shown here are the new and old
guides.

My original guide fit the barrel better (larger diameter slightly so less
slop) The push rod needs to slide easily thru this slotted hole so it
needs to stay centered.

You can see the slop around the outside of the key mechanism in
the lower picture.

Re: 53 Exterior door handle install
 

When installed with all parts, there is a spring and a spring guide
washer that installs around the key mechanism, and they are
retained with a spring clip.

The internal spring guide washer looks like this...
the one on the left is the reproduction part, and the
one on the right is the one I made.

The internal and external diameters were both too sloppy.
I made mine fit tight to the inside diameter so it just barely
slipped on, and the outside just .010 smaller than the handle
barrel diameter so it would center the key push rod

The lower pictures show how much tighter the fit is.

Re: 53 Exterior door handle install
 

With the new o-ring and the new spring guide washer, the
slop is all gone and the button works smooth with no more
occasional jamming.

I sprayed some white lithium grease on all the moving
parts and it works like a charm.

Re: 53 Exterior door handle install
 

Any machine shop should be able to make these washers.
I made mine from 6061 aluminum in about 15 to 20 minutes.

The O/D is 1.035 , ID .485,
total thickness .250, stepped bore dia. .875 bored
.125 deep.

The push button really isn't smooth without upgrading these parts.

Good luck all

Re: 53 Exterior door handle install
 

I had the opposite problem with mine. The original parts were too big to fit inside the new handles. I miked it out and the repops had been over chromed to the max causing the original parts not to fit. After an hours shop time requiring some extensive grinding and fitting they worked.. More crappola from vendors. The quality of reproduction stuff seems very low and cannot be trusted,