Who needs FST door handles and how much would you pay?

[antFJ]

@JohnnyC and anyone else that has worn handles... would you need both pieces to make yours good again or would you just need the the outer handle with the pin? I realize now that I made 10 sets of handles and that the majority of the people probably need just the outer one with the pin?

 

[gr8ful]

Holy Crap these are amazing! You did great work on this project, and that press thing is super cool! I am super impressed. Some day I absolutely have to learn how to make things with metal.

 

[antFJ]

Holy Crap these are amazing! You did great work on this project, and that press thing is super cool! I am super impressed. Some day I absolutely have to learn how to make things with metal.

yeah the guy that made them was Mike Pina from Pina Welding in Yuba City CA and he does some pretty cool stuff. I asked him how he made them and he said he cut through the 1'' plate with his torch. Pretty impressive stuff.

 

[JohnnyC]

It is really just the outside handle that wears out/breaks... The inside one is usually good unless the square hole is round lol

Or where the spring goes wears thru

 

[antFJ]

gotcha. For the spring attachment point I'm planning on cutting some washers in half and then welding it on. Should match stock fairly well.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Very cool to see these being made. I'd be interested in a set or two. I'll be watching this thread for pricing when available

 

[peteinjp]

I'm interested in a full set- 2 outer and 2 inner handles. I need to figure how the work with the late model pillars....


Pete

 

[peteinjp]

I'd take a set of the bushings as well.

Pete

 

[antFJ]

I'd take a set of the bushings as well.

Pete

cool! I don't know of the price yet... still waiting on the pins for the outer door handles to be made. Right now with springs, bushings, bolts, washers, 15mm drill bit and all 4 handles we are at about $100 per set. I think that it will be around $130-150 per set after I finish the outer door handles. I am pretty happy with the price if it ends up there. Hard door inner/outer handles are more than that and even if you could get used FST door handles from $OR they would want $175. I hope the pricing is low enough for everyone. There will be 10 total sets. I plan on keeping at least one set so there should be 9 sets for sale.

of course if you don't want the hardware, bushings, or drill bit we can work out lower pricing. That drill bit alone was like 7 bucks.

 

[lcwizard]

no offense but the factory handles are ugly.... It's hard to screw up ugly. Donald Trump's mom did it first try... Laser cut blanks and some pressings

 

[antFJ]

no offense but the factory handles are ugly.... It's hard to screw up ugly. Donald Trump's mom did it first try... Laser cut blanks and some pressings

Maybe not hard for a wizard! But while you're here... the handles have mill scale on them - how would you remove it?

 

[lcwizard]

Acid. Sulfuric or hydrochloric. I don't know the best dilution offhand. I use P & O steel in the plate parts of our bumpers. P&O is
pickled and oiled. The steel is pickled in an acid bath then oiled with a WD40 like light oil to prevent rust in transport and storage.
The result is slag free plate. I'm sure if you google pickled steel process you'll find a dilution and time schedule. It won't be a terribly high concentration.

 

[antFJ]

Sweet thanks. I was toying with the idea of using my muriatic acid. Ill take a look at pickling.

 

[nuclearlemon]

I think that it will be around $130-150 per set after I finish the outer door handles. I.

if that's the range, i definitely want a set.

 

[peteinjp]

Me too- in for a set in that price range.

P

 

[bikersmurf]

Check out 'Oilite Bushings' for a superior quality bushing. They come in almost every size imaginable, and the last ones I bought were about $1/bushing. They're easy to modify, work with, and superior to stock options,

 

[antFJ]

Check out 'Oilite Bushings' for a superior quality bushing. They come in almost every size imaginable, and the last ones I bought were about $1/bushing. They're easy to modify, work with, and superior to stock options,

Actually believe it or not those are the bushings I am using - they are self lubricating which is pretty cool and they are super cheap to replace.

FINAL PRICE UPDATE: $120 per set+shipping for everything
$100 per set+shipping for just the 4 handles and no hardware, bushings or drill bit.

Thanks to Van Dyke Fab in Rocklin CA I was able to keep the price down. He did the machining on the pins and a jig to help me weld them up. So far I've got

2 sets for me
2 sets for @cruiseroutfit
1 set for @peteinjp
1 set for @nuclearlemon

That leaves 4 sets up for grabs. PM me if you need them.

I should have at least one set done tomorrow and I hope to post pictures then.

 

[peteinjp]

By set you mean enough for 2 doors right? If so then perfect.

Very cool project!


Pete

 

[antFJ]

Yupp a "set" is essentially 4 pieces of metal. Enough for a passenger&driver door.

 

[bikersmurf]

Actually believe it or not those are the bushings I am using - they are self lubricating which is pretty cool and they are super cheap to replace.

I'd believe it... They're excellent... And they also make good door hinge bushings.