[Fordy8man]

hi im new to this site and dont now the routine yet. my question is for anyone who could tell me how your suposed to open your doors after shaving the door handles. someone told me once that you can use electric trunk latches and put a button somewhere on the truck (were no one knows) to open the doors like if you were opening a trunk latch. if any tips for me please let me know. thanks Fordy8man

[troy-curt]

Yep that is the way you do it. put a spring on the bottom rear of the door to pop it open when the solenoid releases the catch. Pretty simple.

You can also purchase kits for shaved doors. HTH

Good Luck
Troy

[pzatchok]

Make sure you put a manual override cable someplace hidden on the car just incase the battery ever dies or something like that.

[Kent Reeves]

back in 1968 had a 57 Ford Ranchero with shaved door handles and used old starter solenoids to open the door latches. I put a couple of push button switches inside the bed at the front, one for each side. All went well until the battery went dead when I left the park lights on. The Ranchero hood opens from inside at the back and you can't open it from the outside. Guess where the battery is? I had to take off the tail light lens and hook a jumper to the positive side of the bulb in order to get enough juice to kick the solenoid for the door. Today with the remotes and smaller solenoids, this is not so much a problem. Kent

[Fordy8man]

first of all thanks for the tips. but were could i find shaved door kits and about how much might they cost. or how would i go about rigging my own latches up. thanks tim

[troy-curt]

Just pickup any hotrod magazine, they are full of ads for that kind of stuff.

You would need to look at a set up and then make your own.

The kit now days is easier, faster, than the way we used to make our own.

Good Luck
Troy

[malc]

Summit carries several remote door kits.
VIA-80158-35DP has 35 pound pull solenoids(125.69$).
VIA-90158DP has 15 pound pull solenoids(119.69$). both are two door
applications.Go to Summit.com and put "door poppers" in keyword search to see more applications.
Best to install remote door opening setup first, then shave the handles.

[302 Z28]

In addition to the solenoids you will need spring loaded poppers. These pop the door away from the door jamb when you initiate opening.

I though breifly for a moment about doing shaved handles on my 34. I have since talked to several rodders at various rod runs who have related stories about what they went through when for whatever reason they couldn't get into their cars with shaved handles. Scooter at www.project33.com also relates a story of his personal experience with shaved door handles. IMO they look cool, but should not be on a daily driver.

Vince

[troy-curt]

If they are installed right, theres nothing wrong with them on a daily driver, don`t forget the emg. gables that was mentioned earlier as was the poper springs. HTH

Troy

[malc]

On my Camaro I use the rear hatch as an emergency entry,the door poppers don´t work that well and they squeak.
I would not do this again on any car.I have had solenoids burn out as well.

[302 Z28]

Installation has nothing to do with it. If for whatever reason your battery goes south you better have an alternative. One street rodder I talked to had them on his first rod he built. He told me every one should have them at least once. His second rod didn't have them after he had to lay on his back in a wet grassy field to pull the release cable on his first rod, he made a vow never to have them again.

Vince

[tm454]

If done properly you will probably never have a problem to share with us. Buy the right popper to do your door and get a good kit with ALL the hardwear and wiring, hide away switch or remote. You will get what you pay for and this is a good example of that. The emergency release must be accessible to you, keep its location to yourself. Things do come up missing in this Hobby and it isn't all done by those damn monkeys that steal my tools. Very nice trick when you want a smooth look.



Todd



Rat Rods Rule!

[troy-curt]

Installation has every thing to do with a good working setup.
Any one who would put the release cable under a car, knows they will have to lay down to get to it. It`s still worth the sleek look of no door handles. They should have been in the wheel well. You can also install jumper plugs ,so another battery could be plugged in.

Troy

[302 Z28]

OK I hear all the points, but really how many places can you hide a release cable that will be easily accessible for yourself, that a thief cannot find just as easily? I just prefer lockable handles, just me I guess

Vince

[Kevin45]

You could also add a solar powered battery charger to make sure the battery is charged when sitting. If the setup is done correctly then you will have nothing to worry about. Add an emergency release of sometype and you are all set. People shave them everyday and have no problems whatsoever. You can also use the door lock as a switch to pop the doors. This way you can shave the handles and leave the lock. If you have a problem, it occurs just about as often as you lock your keys in the car. If a thief wants your car he is going to take it. He is not going to spend time looking for a cable to pop the doors. If you are worried about that then put in an alarm system. If a thief is going to take your car he is going to get in and drive out of there in a matter of just a couple of minutes. Fastest way is to bust the window, hotwire it and go. He is not going to lay on his back and look for a cable that may or may not be somewhere underneath. He is only going to go for a sure thing. Like stated above...go in thru the hatch or trunk or put the cable there where you can get at it with a key.

Kevin