Shaved Door Handles - Any Recommendations?
 

Ghents,

Anyone with shaved door handles/locks have any recommendations for a kit or any other specific brand of parts used?

ALSO, does anyone have any experience with using their car alarm to pop the doors (Solenoids). I know it can be done, just checking on others experiences doing it.

Thanks for any input guys!

Re: Shaved Door Handles - Any Recommendations?
 

Don't do it?
There is a reason people don't do it much anymore, the door solenoids/parts fail all the time. Sooo unless you like crawling in your hatch to get in...

Re: Shaved Door Handles - Any Recommendations?
 

You can prob pay more for better solenoids, I think the real reason you don't see it is that it's just not that cool anymore. A lot of minivans and grocery getters have remote control doors now, so just having yours pop open with a button doesn't seem so cool and futuristic anymore. You still have to actually swing the door open with your hand and... There's no handle! So you grab the door edge or glass. Doesn't sound as cool now , huh? You would feel pretty silly in a paking lot next to a SUV that opens the rear gate and deploys steps by remote.
Another reason is it doesn't get much respect for execution as it's not hard to take your handles out and fill the hole.
The new cool is gull wing! (Not lambo)
For our cars a much cooler mod is installing more modern flush type door handles. Looks good, works good, and takes some fabbing skill.

Re: Shaved Door Handles - Any Recommendations?
 

Id like to see pics of the flush mount handles as thats something Id look into

Re: Shaved Door Handles - Any Recommendations?
 

Shaving the door handles and locks was one of the first mods I made to my camaro, and i still don't regret it 6 years later. I used a kit from Protocol Performance that I bought off EBay. I can also open the trunk with it, and will use it to control the undercar lights once I get them installed. I can control up to 8 functions with it, so I will probably add a hood popper eventually too, and if I can figure out how, an auto-up/down feature for the windows. I did have occasional problems with the driver's side solenoid until I replaced the crappy thin stamped plunger retainer with a heavier C-clip. Anytime it failed, I just popped the passenger door and reached across to open the drivers. I also installed the keyless entry keypad from a 90's Ford Explorer driver's door behind the license plate so I can open the doors or trunk if the battery in my remote ever dies.

Re: Shaved Door Handles - Any Recommendations?
 

Do you have pics of the keypad installed? Thats something id like to try. What parts did you need from the explorer to make it work? Hood popper would be another cool idea as well as my hood cable is messed up

Re: Shaved Door Handles - Any Recommendations?
 

Did that w/72 Rivi lowrider, looked cool, but was a PITA, had issues w/solenoids, Had a safety pull cable under driver side wheel well so I could get into car when it didn't pop open, one day the cable broke cuz I used it so much, never again will I do that mod.....

Re: Shaved Door Handles - Any Recommendations?
 

I bought my car with it, I think it looks really clean, but I'm considering upgrading my latches, I have to keep my hand on the door when I close it or it pops back open, but only on the drivers side (more use I guessing) and only with the window up. But no solenoid failure yet, I've had for 3 years and the guy before me bought it with them on, so they've had quite a life and still kickin.

Re: Shaved Door Handles - Any Recommendations?
 

92rs_ttop I am also interested in the key pad idea....I love mods that make these old cars more modern. It might make a cool write up

Re: Shaved Door Handles - Any Recommendations?
 

I'm running the a VPA shaved door kit from summit. 45lbs solenoids are ridiculous, you don't use that much force to lift the door handle do you?? They are still vary strong and pop open and closed as if they are new.

I liked them so much that I got another set and hooked it up to the Hood Latch, mine is electric now... I just press a button. I used the other for the tonneau cover (my car is a convertible and didn't come with the stock one).

they can be wired up a number of ways. A friend of mine has his wired to roll down the window when button is pressed. Another friend got a really nice kit that unlocks the door when button is pressed, and solenoids pop doors open when he touches the windows/glass.

VPA Remote Door Latch Kits 80158-35DP
http://static.summitracing.com/globa...158-35dp_w.jpg

Re: Shaved Door Handles - Any Recommendations?
 

I did a complete write-up of the keyless entry pad install, including parts needed from the donor vehicle. It was really easy to do.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/elec...aved-door.html

I even posted a video of the completed install on YouTube. If you search for my TGO username on there, you'll find it easily.

Re: Shaved Door Handles - Any Recommendations?
 

:yup:

....and the fact that VERY few are done correctly when it comes to the body work.

Re: Shaved Door Handles - Any Recommendations?
 

Attachment 338284
Attachment 338285

Re: Shaved Door Handles - Any Recommendations?
 

VPA Kit
http://s5.photobucket.com/user/playb...tml?sort=3&o=3

solenoid mounted inside door just under the latch
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y15...0-19141714.jpg

here is how it's bolted on from the outside
Attachment 338282

Door popper mounted in the jamb
Attachment 338283

Re: Shaved Door Handles - Any Recommendations?
 

This gives me ideas for when I paint the car for sure as I want something different as Im tired of the plain and boring plus to me this car is a learning platform for eventually something older I want

Re: Shaved Door Handles - Any Recommendations?
 

Blakecharles - does your door shut the whole way with the poppers there? Doesn't seem like there would be enough room for the head of the popper there.

Re: Shaved Door Handles - Any Recommendations?
 

Deleted

Re: Shaved Door Handles - Any Recommendations?
 

From the looks of those welds, the 'formed' metal in the original door skin is still in place and a metal patch was put over the top to cover them up......as I was saying....

Re: Shaved Door Handles - Any Recommendations?
 

Re: Shaved Door Handles - Any Recommendations?
 

1990's GM truck flesh mounted handles!?!?! Well done. :thumbsup:

Re: Shaved Door Handles - Any Recommendations?
 

90's Eldorado, thanks.

Re: Shaved Door Handles - Any Recommendations?
 

Nice 84 1LE! I thought about flush handles for a long while...11 years really. I'm going for broke with mine! NO HANDLES at all. Since my build has taken 10+ YEARS we will see when it happens. I do have the poppers and solenoids now though. Damn, life could give me a long awaited break so I can get back to it already. ****! My plates expired back in '03. Lets get back to this already!!!!

Re: Shaved Door Handles - Any Recommendations?
 

Damn, ten years! That's a longgg build.I considered shaving the handles, but didn't wanna deal with the doors & not having battery power.

Re: Shaved Door Handles - Any Recommendations?
 

Yeah buddy, actually 11 or 12 years based on the expired tabs on the plates. Just think of all of the parts and toys I have collected for the car in all of that time. Fresh carpet, new seats, all new interior plastics - doubles and triples of some, an a$$ ton of stereo pieces. All new LED lighting and HID headlamps. I used 4 single beam kits. BEAUTIFUL lights really.

My favorite part of the build so far is the front turn signals I fabbed up using a router and some clear plexi. Try finding clear signal lenses for a Sport Coupe. NON-EXISTENT!

Anyway, I'm wiring the shaved solenoids to the battery backup for the alarm. ALWAYS have power to them that way. Plus I have 2 batteries installed up front.

Thanks for the response 84 1LE! Always loved your LED taillights in your avatar!

http://s1241.photobucket.com/user/le.../HID%20Install

Re: Shaved Door Handles - Any Recommendations?
 

Wow! Here's the thing. I'm stuck in the 90's anyway. Finally able to afford some of the cool things I wanted way back then so I'm doing it! I even added some blue neon underneath. MY car so I'm doing it the way I always wanted to. I do greatly respect your input and thoughts. Thanks buddy!

Re: Shaved Door Handles - Any Recommendations?
 

Do those solenoids need 12v or can you use a smaller battery, like 6v?

The t.lights in my were at the time not LED, just painted a checkerboard pattern.Much later did i adapt in an LED board.

Got any pics of your front signals? I also adapted a LED baord to my front/side markers.

Re: Shaved Door Handles - Any Recommendations?
 

Thanks buddy for the input. I've always wanted it done going back to the 90's! My alarm will do everything I need as far as rolling up and down the windows, popping the hatch (I've got new struts so they go up automatically when unlocked anyway), unlocking the doors AND popping the shaved handles.

Re: Shaved Door Handles - Any Recommendations?
 

Most solenoids will work any anything from 6 - 14 volts. Like I said, mine are hooked up to a 6 volt backup battery as well as both of the 12 volt batteries under the hood. Always loved your t-lights! Beautiful paint work on the grid also!!

Here are some pics of version 1 of my clear lenses. I initially used a square LED bulb then switched back to a AMber Silverstar bulb. Version 2 construction will start very soon. Cleaner with better LED bulbs.

Click the image below for a slide show of the clear lenses I fabbed up, 84 1LE.

http://s1241.photobucket.com/user/le...-%20Rebuilding

Re: Shaved Door Handles - Any Recommendations?
 

Okay, I hear ya. Still, I'm convinced. I'm taking the proper fail safes into account. Secondary batteries and cables. Sh!t, I even did under car neon. This is a tribute build to all of those things from the 90's I couldn't afford back then. Call me lame or whatever, I will LOVE it nevertheless. Thanks though! I respect your reasoning.

Re: Shaved Door Handles - Any Recommendations?
 

Definately need a larger board.That one is good for the dome light though.I have a 48 LEDs on my driving lights & 22 on the side marker.

Re: Shaved Door Handles - Any Recommendations?
 

Thanks 84 1LE, I'm on egay right now looking for a 48 LED right now. I'll let you know (see) when I get it done! Thank you VERY much for the help!!!

CAN I SEE PICS of your setup???? PLEASE!

Re: Shaved Door Handles - Any Recommendations?
 

Nice work man! did you do a write up at all as this is something id like to do then the pop locks as my battery tends to die alot lol. how hard was it to hook them up to the actual door lock rod / mechanisim?

Thanks

Re: Shaved Door Handles - Any Recommendations?
 

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/auto...t-markers.html


https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/auto...ddy-style.html