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40's Cadillac exterior door handles.

Started by gary griffin, October 12, 2014, 01:28:39 PM

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gary griffin

During my early restoration attempts I noticed a couple of broken door handles for my 1942-6719  and found replacements through the normal sources and had them chrome plated with the other items. Yesterday I was installing them and the holes for the tapered pin that holds them in place do not meet up with the holes in the door. Upon examination I noticed that the flat part on the ends are the same as they are on my other ones but the holes are 1/4 inch further out towards the end so the handles work but there is a 1/4 inch gap between the handle and the door.

If I can find an appropriate taper drill I could drill new holes and solve the problem or if someone it set up to do this I could send him the handles and pay for the drilling.

I have found other length shafts on door handles but never before have I found the same length shafts with the holes different.
Gary Griffin

1940 LaSalle 5029 4 door convertible sedan
1942 Cadillac 6719 restoration almost complete?
1957 Cadillac 60-special (Needs a little TLC)
2013 Cadillac XTS daily driver

Doug Houston

This is a lousy time to say this, but when you have handles like these, they could be from who knows what??

I had found new handles for my '41 Chevrolet, and they were not drilled. I had the tapered screws, and I drilled the holes in place, and all went well.

I hope you can re-locate the holes properly!
38-6019S
38-9039
39-9057B
41-6227D
41-6019SF
41-6229D
41-6267D
56-6267
70-DeV Conv
41-Chev 41-1167
41 Olds 41-3929

gary griffin

#2
Doug,

   Did you use a tapered bit or just drill them to the larger size? I am concerned that the tapered screws would break if the holes were not tapered also? I see no problem locating the holes because the difference is exactly 1/4 inch and the larger size of the taper is 3/16 inch so there will be  1/16th inch between the holes. 
Gary Griffin

1940 LaSalle 5029 4 door convertible sedan
1942 Cadillac 6719 restoration almost complete?
1957 Cadillac 60-special (Needs a little TLC)
2013 Cadillac XTS daily driver

Steve Passmore

The problem without having the taper would be that the screw would only bite in the hole on the widest part of its thickness near the slotted end. In constant use this would eventually become loose and the handle would drop.
Steve

Present
1937 60 convertible coupe
1941 62 convertible coupe
1941 62 coupe

Previous
1936 70 Sport coupe
1937 85 series V12 sedan
1938 60 coupe
1938 50 coupe
1939 60S
1940 62 coupe
1941 62 convertible coupe x2
1941 61 coupe
1941 61 sedan x2
1941 62 sedan x2
1947 62 sedan
1959 62 coupe

Brad Ipsen CLC #737

I don't think these holes were tapered, only the screw is tapered.  There is a TSB on page 34 of Sept 37 stating that all replacement handles are undrilled and must be located and drilled in the field to get the clearance with the door skin just right.  They say to use a 3/16" drill.  I have taken to welding these holes up before chroming (or after chroming until I learned my lesson) and custom drilling them to get the door clearance right.  The particular handle on the 40, 41, 42 etc. is very common but there are a lot of different shaft lengths so check before chroming that it is close.
Brad Ipsen
1940 Cadillac 60S
1938 Cadillac 9039
1940 Cadillac 6267
1940 LaSalle 5227
1949 Cadillac 6237X
1940 Cadillac 60S Limo