Topic: 67-68 outer door handle on "Driver car", Best options ~Re-chrome or Replace?

[67gtasanjose]

I have two sets of originals and no pitting in chrome, I also have a new pair of Reproduction "Highway Classics".
I get the feeling I am going to be happier in the end to have my originals replated but as we know, plating not only costs so much, often the features get ground off in the prep and finishing processes.
NOS only occasionally show up for sale, so I guess that is a 3rd option.

Anyone have GOOD EXPERIENCE with any of the re-pops? The repops I have feel very cheap when I push the button while simulating it installed. Push-Button flopping all over the place. I do not recall an original feeling so loose.

[ruppstang]

My experience with replating door handles has been the stripping process makes the hole larger and the button smaller ending with a wobbly button. I have had good success using the Scott Drake handles, replated original buttons and using the original mechanism. NOS ones would be my first choice.
Marty 

[jwc66k]

I had my door handles re-chromed and was very happy with the result, same with the buttons. (I also had the mechanism pieces gold zinc plated.) It's expensive, so for a driver, reproductions "might" be better, cheaper anyway. The current reproduction buttons don't have the two keying tabs so they do wobble. You having a 67-68 type handle (64-66 and 69,70 are the same) are in a unique situation. Again, for a driver - think on it.
Jim

[stangerdude]

I use the Drake "concourse" handles and have had absolutely no issues with them except I sometimes have to chase the threads for the mounting screw and stud before installing. No issues with wobbly buttons at all. The "concourse" set is the most expensive repro, but is the best you can get short of paying outrageous prices for NOS. I have installed at least 15 sets in my driver restorations and they look and operate like they should!   Paul

[67gtasanjose]

So, I re-worked the Highway Classics branded handles. The biggest issue turned out being the pins that original handles have pressed into the buttons. The Highway Robbery reproductions did have good chrome and at least line up to the holes in the doors but also, the hinge portion was too large to fit into the cut-out in the door. The repro pins looked more like a roofing nail, held in place by the spring so it wasn't really even connected to the button itself.

I removed the pin from one original push-button, they just pressed our with the pin clamped in the vice and using two screwdrivers, leveraged the pins straight out. Then I center-drilled the buttons the same depth as the original buttons and using my press, I pressed the old pins into the new buttons. Afterwards, I screwed the original hinge-mechanism onto the new handles and they are satisfactory now.  They wobble a little, but so did the originals before taking them apart so about the same wobble when finished.

Video link: https://www.facebook.com/richard.urch/videos/10210707487514362/
Youtube has a followup video:

[Bob Gaines]

So, I re-worked the Highway Classics branded handles. The biggest issue turned out being the pins that original handles have pressed into the buttons. The Highway Robbery reproductions did have good chrome and at least line up to the holes in the doors but also, the hinge portion was too large to fit into the cut-out in the door. The repro pins looked more like a roofing nail, held in place by the spring so it wasn't really even connected to the button itself.

I removed the pin from one original push-button, they just pressed our with the pin clamped in the vice and using two screwdrivers, leveraged the pins straight out. Then I center-drilled the buttons the same depth as the original buttons and using my press, I pressed the old pins into the new buttons. Afterwards, I screwed the original hinge-mechanism onto the new handles and they are satisfactory now.  They wobble a little, but so did the originals before taking them apart so about the same wobble when finished.

Video link: https://www.facebook.com/richard.urch/videos/10210707487514362/
Youtube has a followup video:

Nice.

[J_Speegle]

Thanks for doing the video - sure it will help others faced with the same issue