The information you guys have posted have helped me out a lot where I have run out of ideas myself. Thanks for sharing your experience and expertise.
After careful consideration of the pros & cons of door handle shaving, and plenty of thought about alternative customizations, I still have my heart set on shaving. The car is going in for other body work, and the weld/fill will be left to the pros when they do the rest. My question is regarding what sort of actuator people have had success with. The kits all look easy and simple, but kits aren't really my style. I prefer the creativity and challenge of modified and/or junkyard parts, in spite of the increase in work involved. I like the sense of achievement that goes along with that sort of work(never mind the fact that I am already about $1000 over budget with body work and paint, and it is going to be a trick to find that!). I have tried a power gas door actuator (not enough pull) and the weak power lock actuator from my fox body Mustang, but neither were up to the challenge. There is no room inside the door to add a lever or spring "helper" system to ease the load on the electrics. I have read that Lincoln & Cadillac door lock actuators pull pretty hard. Can anyone confirm this, or suggest another scrapyard treasure that may work?
Incidentally, for those of you with lighter door latches, the gas door actuator from a fox body Mustang makes for an incredibly simple and versitile pull mechanism. It has a long, flexible cable that makes mounting it a snap! <img src="confused.gif" border="0">
After careful consideration of the pros & cons of door handle shaving, and plenty of thought about alternative customizations, I still have my heart set on shaving. The car is going in for other body work, and the weld/fill will be left to the pros when they do the rest. My question is regarding what sort of actuator people have had success with. The kits all look easy and simple, but kits aren't really my style. I prefer the creativity and challenge of modified and/or junkyard parts, in spite of the increase in work involved. I like the sense of achievement that goes along with that sort of work(never mind the fact that I am already about $1000 over budget with body work and paint, and it is going to be a trick to find that!). I have tried a power gas door actuator (not enough pull) and the weak power lock actuator from my fox body Mustang, but neither were up to the challenge. There is no room inside the door to add a lever or spring "helper" system to ease the load on the electrics. I have read that Lincoln & Cadillac door lock actuators pull pretty hard. Can anyone confirm this, or suggest another scrapyard treasure that may work?
Incidentally, for those of you with lighter door latches, the gas door actuator from a fox body Mustang makes for an incredibly simple and versitile pull mechanism. It has a long, flexible cable that makes mounting it a snap! <img src="confused.gif" border="0">