for those of you who have shaved your door handles and locks, how do you solve opening and closing the doors? I would also like to make a unique door handle to replace my old one. any ideas of different things?

 

do a search on this for the technical stuff, it would take up the post just for that.....

plain and simply put your going to need automatic door poppers(can't think of the right term now!), most car catalogs have some version of this......i would check out import magazines they offer the lowest prices! once installed you use a remote or a hidden button on the car to "pop" the doors open!

check out any import mag and some car will have an article on it! if you want to see it in action check out the movie "gone in 60sec"....there is an black custom car that has this mod....you'll also see how easy it is to steal your car!! as far as closing your doors nothing changes.


not sure why you would "shave" your door handles and add a custom handle; i would pick one or the other......if you go with a custom, you could have custom Trans am handles these are more flush with the car and give the car a smoother look!

choices are endless, give us more of an idea of what look you want to achieve and i'll give some better ideas.

one note, i was planning on doing this on my car after shaving the antenna and emblems, but found that it's not a job you can do in one day so be prepared for a little work, not to scare you just understand it takes some effort!!

just do a search for more your not the only one on here who would like to do this; good luck in whatever you choose to do and if you go through with it post some pics!

 

I think you have to install a second batt from what I heard. This is in case the main batt goes dead and you have no way to open the doors. I have seen the kit and the switch that opens the door is electric. The door poppers are just springs that go in the door jam I believe. By the way that button that opens the doors under the car will only work if they can unlock the car first. I am going just by what I have seen.

I want to shave my antennae as well. I plan to put a euro style on between the roof and the hatch. It makes the car look smaller. The other guy was right saying that it is a lot of work though.

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91 Z28 Camaro
305 TPI
Flowmaster 3" exhaust
700R4 with 2000 Stall and shift kit
One sweet sounding system

 

Okay then, in order:

You open and close the door with a remote on your keychain (or a button hidden on your car) which pulls a solenoid, popping your latch. A couple of guys have gotten away with using stock door electric power locks to pull the door mechanism open. Try www.autoloc.com , that's where I got mine for about $250. The actual install took about three hours taking my time, then it's off to have someone weld plates over the openings where the handles used to be. You may want to run it a week or so with the handles on just to make sure everything is going to work out okay. No need to install a second battery (of course, if you're going to anyway, why stop at a second why not add a third in case the second goes down, then a fourth in case the third... ) You just embarass yourself by having to climb in the hatch if the battery is dead -OR- if you lose your remote you typically have a hidden button somewhere to pop one of the doors. Door poppers are just springs to help kick the door open a bit farther than the weatherstripping would do on its own. You remove the locking mechanism completely from the door. Wouldn't do to lock the door, then shut it. You could spend all day long kicking the solenoid to get it open and it ain't gonna happen. Shaving the antenna was another afternoon's worth of work - no biggie.

Steve



Shaved door handles and antenna...



Inside shot of the solenoid attached to the door latch mechanism.


Along the left hand side you can see the actual door "popper"...


Wiring the actual harness to make it all work. It looks a lot worse than it actually was.

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Steve's Trans Am Temple

 

Thanks for that Info steve
I think I will go that route with a keyless entry.

 

Something I recently heard.... Englishtown (Raceway Park) won't let someone race if their door handles are shaved! I don't know why, since I race with my doors locked anyway, so it might not be true. But it might be something to investigate and/or keep in mind...


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

I have heard that, too, but I don't get it. If I get into a wreck they are using the jaws of life to get me out anyway.. door handles won't help much...