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Topic: Door handle screw won't tighten down

in Forum: C3 Body


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Door handle screw won't tighten down (1/6)
 5/29/13 8:50am
N0JRS
Former Member

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STERLING, CO - USA

Vette(s):
My Corvettes are a 1978 L-82 Coupe with an automatic transmission. It has a Silver Anniversary paint scheme with an Oyster interior. I also have a 2003 Electron Blue convertible, Milestone Edition with an LS-1 and a six speed transmission.


Joined: 1/10/2013
Posts: 43

Can someone help me with that age old problem. My driver's side door handle screw won't tighten down. I know that the two base screw mounts can be replaced, but what is the fix for the one at the top? If there is a thread that covers the repair, I couldn't find it. Thanks for the help. 

Lynn
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Re: Door handle screw won't tighten down (2/6)
 5/29/13 11:17am
Adams' AppleLifetime Member
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Duncanville, TX - USA

Vette(s):
#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas


Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20126

Question
Not sure exactly which screw(s) you're referring to....inside door handle, or external handle?

Here's a visual of the interior door


|UPDATED|5/29/2013 8:17:45 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    

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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Re: Door handle screw won't tighten down (3/6)
 5/29/13 11:15am
N0JRS
Former Member

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STERLING, CO - USA

Vette(s):
My Corvettes are a 1978 L-82 Coupe with an automatic transmission. It has a Silver Anniversary paint scheme with an Oyster interior. I also have a 2003 Electron Blue convertible, Milestone Edition with an LS-1 and a six speed transmission.


Joined: 1/10/2013
Posts: 43

I was referring to the inside door handle. There are three screws. To anchor the arm rest brace; the third secures the top of the armrest where you pull the door shut. Thanks, Lynn
Re: Door handle screw won't tighten down (4/6)
 5/29/13 12:13pm
tb2k82ceLifetime Member
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Lemon Grove, CA - USA

Vette(s):
1982 C3 Collectors Edition 44000 miles, sat in the sun most of its life, My wife purchased it for me for Father's Day in 2007 from her girlfriend that had it for 19 years. It is on the road again. I'm retired but it is now my daily driver.


Joined: 10/17/2007
Posts: 2041

When I have that problem and it happens often enough I use a speed nut or clip nut.  When I use a speed nut I hot glue it in place to hold it.  Apoxie does not seem to work good as speed nuts have to remain flexible.  But a little hot glue works not a lot as you are only looking to keep it in place until the screw is started.

I'm not a fan of using larger screws as the sheet metal gets enlarged.

 Clip Nut

Speed Nut

Hopes this helps.  I had the same problem on my car except the someone had already used a larger screw so getting an even larger one was not an option.  That is when I started using Clip or Speed Nuts.  Next time I have my dash out I will be putting Speed Nuts behind every screw so I'm not just screwing into foam or plastic.






|UPDATED|5/29/2013 9:13:14 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
Re: Door handle screw won't tighten down (5/6)
 5/29/13 12:34pm
Adams' AppleLifetime Member
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Duncanville, TX - USA

Vette(s):
#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas


Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20126

So the door pull handle is loose, right? If the threads in the metal part of the door are worn, then your only option is as Gilbert posted....clip nuts.
If the door pull itself is broken, and the screw is just pulling thru the door pull, there is a specific Repair Kit for that.

______________

Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    

My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)
             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Re: Door handle screw won't tighten down (6/6)
 5/30/13 12:23am
N0JRS
Former Member

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STERLING, CO - USA

Vette(s):
My Corvettes are a 1978 L-82 Coupe with an automatic transmission. It has a Silver Anniversary paint scheme with an Oyster interior. I also have a 2003 Electron Blue convertible, Milestone Edition with an LS-1 and a six speed transmission.


Joined: 1/10/2013
Posts: 43

I have my Saturday project all planned out. Thanks to all for the help. I'll use the suggestions to fix the problem. I'm going to have to get new arm rests because my driver's door handle is too far gone to use the "fix". I got the kit and couldn't make it work.  Does the 2013 Member Gathering have a swap meet? Sounds like a great idea to me.  

Thanks for the help,
Lynn
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