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View Full Version : Need help on my 56 outside door handles



Ron
12-18-2012, 08:23 AM
11211122

First off not sure if this is the right place to post these questions. Hope so.

I got my 56 4 door hardtop on ebay the door handles and side chrome where already off the car.
I want to put the door handles back on the car plus the side chrome.
I cannot find anybody who sells the rods that go from the outside door handles to the latch.
I did find the piece that fits over the door handle that the rods hook to.
I donot want used ones unles they are near perfect.

What i was wondering I am finding that the door locks and handles off from a 56-62 corvette
are the same as the 56-57 4 door hardtop are the rods alo the same.


The other thing I have been looking for is the side chrome for the 4 door hardtop
If I can find them it will be easy to put it back on the holes where not filled in just have a piece of tape over them

chevynut
12-18-2012, 10:33 AM
I would check eBay for the side trim. I don't understand which "rods" you're talking about. I assume you're talking about the something that goes from the button on the door handle to the mechanism immediately behind it. Why are yours missing? Seems like it might be a part that you can easily make, but I'm not sure why it would be different on a 4DHT than any other model.

Ron
12-18-2012, 10:57 AM
When they removed the door handles they took all the rods off also.
Here is what they look like.
The books show the 4 door hardtop are different then the 2 door.

http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Corvette-1956-1957-1958-1959-1960-1961-1962-Door-Rods-Inside-Door-with-Clip-set-/00/s/NzExWDE2MDA=/$(KGrHqFHJBcE9rNG8fKZBPm0DBuyvw~~60_12.JPG

chevynut
12-18-2012, 11:53 AM
I don't get it....the outside door handles have nothing to do with those rods. The rods are connected from the latch to the INSIDE door handles. Are we getting anywhere? :)

Ron
12-18-2012, 12:19 PM
No there is a rod that goes from the door latch up to the door handles
There is another part that goes on to the outside door handles
that is called a door release mechansim the rod from the latch comes up to and hooks in it.

this is why the books show 4 door hardtop only.

I think I might have found some for a 56 buick on ebay I just need to look in the parts interchange book later to make sure they are the same.

Thanks anyways.

chevynut
12-18-2012, 12:34 PM
Ok, I guess I've never seen one like that. 4DHTs are weird. ;)

markm
12-18-2012, 12:34 PM
I have a set of older Hollanders and they do not list this small an item. Back then Buicks ,Olds ,Pontiac and Chevy were very different car, with little interchange.

Ron
12-18-2012, 12:47 PM
Your right the hollanger books donot show the small parts.
A friend of mine has all the old GM parts books just not sure if he has the Buick
most of his are chevy.

I am surprise there is nothing on the internet about these door rods or how they hook up.

I will try and get a picture on later.

Ron
12-18-2012, 01:02 PM
Here ia what the door latch looks like with the rods hooked up.
Like I said surprised there is nothing about this on the web there is now though.

Also if anybody has all the side molding let me know.

1123

chevynut
12-18-2012, 01:54 PM
The picture says 2 and 4 door HT and convertible. So aren't the rods the same? My 56 Nomad doesn't have any rods like that, neither does my sedan.

Ron
12-18-2012, 02:01 PM
As far as the the rods going from the door latch to the door handle I think they are the same as a 2 door hardtop and conv. but nobody makes them
I am almost postive the corvettes are the same because they have the exact same setup.

Now the rod from the door latch to the door lock are 56 hardtop and conv. only I can find them

chevynut
12-18-2012, 03:27 PM
http://www.ebay.com/itm/56-Chevy-Door-Lock-To-Latch-Rods-Hardtop-Convertible-/310393335125?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessorie s&hash=item4844e26d55&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/55-56-57-Chevy-Hardtop-Convertible-Door-Lock-Rods-/190664732484?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessorie s&hash=item2c6480ef44&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/56-CHEVY-BEL-AIR-HT-CONV-DOOR-LOCK-RODS-CLIPS-/310350339989?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessorie s&hash=item4842525f95&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1956-1962-Corvette-Door-Open-Push-Button-Rod-Right-/380494263403?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Year%3A1956%7CMake%3AChevrolet&hash=item589739b46b&vxp=mtr



http://www.ebay.com/itm/1956-1962-Corvette-Door-Lock-Mechanism-Rod-/350625532292?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Year%3A1956%7CMake%3AChevrolet&hash=item51a2e90984&vxp=mtr
(http://www.ebay.com/itm/1956-1962-Corvette-Door-Lock-Mechanism-Rod-/350625532292?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Year%3A1956%7CMake%3AChevrolet&hash=item51a2e90984&vxp=mtr)

chevynut
12-20-2012, 12:10 PM
Hey Ron,

How much of the 4DHT side trim is common with the other 4-door cars? I wonder if some of the pieces might work. I know the front fender trim is the same. Is the door trim the same? How about the quarter trim? I would think the dogleg would be unique, but I'm not sure.

chevynut
12-20-2012, 12:37 PM
Looks to me like the only trim difference is the dogleg. I think the HT dogleg is shorter vertically, so you couldn't make one out of a sedan piece. And the 2DHT piece is shorter lengthwise. A guy good at fixing trim could probably make one out of a 4-door sedan part and a 2DHT part, by welding them together.

I have nearly a full set of 4-door BelAir sedan side trim in excellent shape, including one long quarter trim piece.

http://carnut.com/show/06/amc/amc077.jpg



http://carnut.com/show/06/ggdal/dal1026.jpg

http://carnut.com/show/06/amc/amc215.jpg

Ron
12-20-2012, 01:06 PM
The only side molding that fits is the ones on the front fenders.
the doors are longer on a 4 door hardtop then a a 4 door sedan.
the back 1/4 are shorter

It looks like I might be getting another 4 door hardtop that is only good as a parts car but all the side molding is there.

Thanks

hep1966
01-04-2013, 06:11 AM
The outside handles are the same as Corvette handles.

I don't know about the inside parts.

chevynut
01-04-2013, 06:22 AM
Ron, did any of the parts I linked on eBay look like they would work for you?

Ron
01-31-2013, 12:38 PM
Found out the hard way the door rods from the outside door handle to latch off from a Corvette donot fit the Belair 4 door hardtop.
I did find 5/32 drilled rod that will be perfect to make the rods out of. So I am going to make my own.

The other rods where never a problem you can get them from Danchuk and cheaper then ebay

Ron
05-06-2013, 08:51 AM
I see there is a lot of views on this subject. So I figured I would up date this in case anybody else ends up in the same situation I did. The door lock to latch rods that are being sold for the 56 4 door hardtop from Danchuk and others do not wok. I did call Danchuk last week and let them know there book and salesperson was wrong about the lock rods fitting a 4 door hardtop They are way to short they are for a 2 door hardtop only so save your money. I ended up having to make all my rods myself I used 5/32" x 36" Oil Hardened Drill Rod. It will take one 3 foot rod for each door. I made a couple of mistake when I was threading the first one so I was glad I had gotten 3 rods. They are cheap and once I got the hang of it I thought it was very easy to do. I used a 6/32 die to make the threads and then I had to use a 6/32 tap for the swivel which the outside door handle rod screws into. The swivel is on the door latch towards the bottom. There is nothing else you can use so make sure you do not to screw up the swivel. You do have to pull the windows out and some of the hardware but it is a easy job I felt. My biggest problem was who ever took the door handles and locks off a long time ago had no idea what they where doing and I had a lot of work I had to do to the doors to get the locks back in where then belonged. I will try and get a picture of the car with the handles and locks on later.

Ron
05-08-2013, 08:29 AM
I been trying to get some pictures of the rods on how then hook up on the inside but the pictures keep coming out real dark. Once I get some good ones I will post them also. I do have a picture of the car with the locks and handles on now. The touch up paint color is wrong but I plan on repainting the whole car this fall now the side chrome is being made .........................

Ron
05-11-2013, 03:05 PM
Here are pictures of what the rods look like hooked up just hope the pictures are good.I did not use the clips to hold the rods in place I used 5/32 speed nuts . 162416251626

rlreller
09-22-2016, 05:59 PM
I have a 4Dr HT also that is amost done with a complet restoration. found the rod from the latch to the outside door handle was corroded. I can't find a replacement rod but it looks like the thread is the same as on the rods that go up to the latch lock knobs on top of the door. So, I thought about if I could find some rod with the right thread I could bend the rest of the rod to length and fit. I think it would be easiest now to just tap out to #6-32 and weld a scew on the end to fit.

Bluegrass Trifive
09-22-2016, 07:01 PM
11211122

First off not sure if this is the right place to post these questions. Hope so.

I got my 56 4 door hardtop on ebay the door handles and side chrome where already off the car.
I want to put the door handles back on the car plus the side chrome.
I cannot find anybody who sells the rods that go from the outside door handles to the latch.
I did find the piece that fits over the door handle that the rods hook to.
I donot want used ones unles they are near perfect.

What i was wondering I am finding that the door locks and handles off from a 56-62 corvette
are the same as the 56-57 4 door hardtop are the rods alo the same.


The other thing I have been looking for is the side chrome for the 4 door hardtop
If I can find them it will be easy to put it back on the holes where not filled in just have a piece of tape over them Go on some of the Facebook Trifive pages and look up Thomas Sutton in Missouri. He most likely has all the parts you need right in one place. He fools with a lot of 4 door cars including converting several to 2 doors so he has lots of parts.