Door Handles

Steve Jank · Post by **Steve Jank** » Thu Jan 15, 2004 6:18 pm

Where can door handles be obtained? I recall that there was an
article advising that specific automobile handles might be used as
replacements..??

Harold Holiman · Post by **Harold Holiman** » Fri Jan 16, 2004 1:28 pm

NAPA part number 735-1194 door handle fits. Some have also suggested you drill and tap these handles for set screws for additional security.

Harold H

Post by **GAHorn** » Fri Jan 16, 2004 9:33 pm

The handle Harold refers to is not a copy of the originals, although it may physically fit. I don't know. It looks like a modern Ford or GM handle with a rather large "boss" or escutcheon and a 3/4" wide flat handle.

I've heard from time to time, stories about early Ford or Chevy handles fitting our airplanes. Every time I attempt to hold someone's feet to the fire and make them commit to a specific part or source...things begin to get a little "anecdotal".

Until recently I had a few extra handles in serviceable condition that I've managed to give away to one or the other and now I have only one remaining in useable condition but poor appearance. It's chrome plating is dull and numerous imperfections exist in the appearance. I'm using it as a model to search for a reliable handle source.

When I bought my airplane, it came with nice, new inside door handles. The previous owner told me he found them at an antique car swap-meet. They are exact replacements, and he was told they were supposed to fit a 1938 Dodge. He doesn't really know, nor does he know how to find the person he acquired them from.

(I knew this message would inspire all you folks.)

Clark · Post by **Clark** » Sun Jan 18, 2004 9:15 pm

I've been told (can't reveal the source) the original interior door handles are "duplicates" of '48 Chevy pickup interior door handles. These are available as reproductions through LMC trucks (http://www.LMCTRUCK.com/ 1-800-222-5664) for $24.95. Part number is 38-6504. I have yet to find an escutcheon that will work.

russfarris · Post by **russfarris** » Mon Jan 19, 2004 4:34 am

Well, it was on the old Yahoo site I posted this and I guess George forgot to hold my feet to the fire, but I found Chevrolet door handles from 1941 to at least 1948 were exact duplicates of the pitted, nasty handles on my airplane. I'm not at home right now were I can get at it, but I wrote down the GM part numbers of the New Old Stock boxes they came in. I'll check it out when I return and post them. Remember, though - you'll have to go through Hemmings Motor News or similiar sources to get these handles, and they won't be cheap. Russ Farris

n3439d · Post by **n3439d** » Mon Jan 19, 2004 5:51 am

some may consider an auto door handle to be an unapproved part. while it is the same as the cessna part it did not go through the cessna quality control, and is not an aircraft part.

zero.one.victor · Post by **zero.one.victor** » Mon Jan 19, 2004 6:16 am

I replaced my beat-up old door handles with a pair of mini-vice grips from my local NAPA Airmotive store. Besides being sturdy & a tight fit on the splined shaft (!),they're infinitely more useful than stock handles when you need to wrench on your airplane away from home. An additional benefit is that they are easily removable,a nice feature when you've finally succeeded in trapping that knock-out waitress from the airport cafe alone in the cabin with you!

Eric

N170BP · Post by **N170BP** » Mon Jan 19, 2004 6:19 am

I just ordered a pair of 1948 Chevy Pickup interior door handles
and a set of gaskets (can't say or spell the other word for them....
eschuetions or whatever) from these folks:

http://www.chevsofthe40s.com/

The handles were $10.50 each and the gasket set was $10.00
bucks.

I don't actually own a 1948 Chevy Pickup, but I thought I'd
buy the door handles / gaskets just in case I ever decided to
buy a Pickup like this (never hurts to be prepared, and a guy
can never have too many spare parts on hand).

When the handles arrive, just for fun, I'll report back here
as to if they are an exact match and fit for a Cessna 170
(you know, just for winning trivia beer bets at the bar....).

Bela P. Havasreti
'54 C-170B N170BP

N170BP · Post by **N170BP** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 1:34 am

Well, anyone have a 1948 Chev pick-up truck that needs
new interior door handles? (nice, brand new ones....).

Myth busted.... the '48 Chev handles aren't even close.
They appear perhaps 1.5 times bigger than the Cessna
handles. I haven't tried then on the door handle splined
shafts yet (crappy weather today, so I didn't go to the
airport) but I can tell it will be a "No Cigar" affair.

I've got me a mind to fly down to Washougal (where
this place is) and bring an original handle with me to
see if the guys there can identify it's actual automotive
equivalent.

Bela P. Havasreti
'54 C-170B N170BP

Dave Clark · Post by **Dave Clark** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 2:32 pm

Yes keep working it Bela.

Post by **GAHorn** » Thu Jan 22, 2004 3:09 am

Bela, did you see the pre '47 Chevy handles? They look very much like the Cessna handles except for the lack of minor detail sculpts or grooves.

N170BP · Post by **N170BP** » Thu Jan 22, 2004 3:29 am

Nope, just ordered the 1948 handles right off of the web.

Somewhere else (not sure if it was on this forum) it
was mentioned that a '37 Chev handle was an
equivalent. The only local "classic parts" place
goes back only to the 1950's, so I haven't had
one of those in my hands.... But I'd be willling
to invest another $30 or so dollars for a set of
1936-1937 Chev "car" door handles to see if
they will work.

By the time I'm all done "investigating", I'll probably
be able to afford the "original" handles off of
http://www.iwantcessnaparts.com (they are $239 or so
each). But the journey wouldn't be as fun
of course....

Bela P. Havasreti
'54 C-170B N170BP

Maineboy · Post by **Maineboy** » Thu Jan 22, 2004 3:31 pm

Just to save someone from making the same $50 mistake, I ordered part" # p3947-16345-a" inside door handle from http://www.chevy-classic-parts.com. It did not fit. It looks just like the '39-'46 door handle (part # 3654593c) that is on http://www.chevsofthe40s.com/

The handle below that one '47-'66 part #3848873 has a ruler pictured under it. I measures just under 6 inches. The same length as my 1956 cessna handle.
Bela, did you check the spline shaft size yet? just curious.
I have a non opening passenger window, if I don't find a handle soon I will have to resort to the vise-grip trick. I have seen this done before, works good but makes passengers alittle nervous!

I'm amazed at the weight of the original handles! Things like that belong on tractors.

N170BP · Post by **N170BP** » Thu Jan 22, 2004 5:11 pm

Haven't checked the spline shaft size yet. I'll do so tomorrow.

I went back to the http://www.chevsofthe40s.com/ web site
and dug around some more. This time in the "Cars" portion
of their on-line parts database.

Part #s 4090143 and 4102254 look very close. The former
is for a 1939 Chev car, the latter for a 1940-1948 Chev
car.

The next weather permitting day, I'll fly down to Camas
(Washington State), grab an airport crew car (or cab if I have to)
and go visit these chevsofthe40s folks in person (it's about
an hour's flight from where I keep my airplane).

I'll post the results of the trip here when I get back.

Bela P. Havasreti
'54 C-170B N170BP

N170BP · Post by **N170BP** » Thu Jan 22, 2004 5:13 pm

Forgot to say you're right about the weight!
Makes one want to pull a splash mold off
of an original handle and pour/cast new ones
in aluminum.

Bela P. Havasreti
'54 C-170B N170BP