5 replies to this topic

[ABikePeddler]

Hello everyone...

 

This is really my first post on this site but I have been lurking in the background for quite sometime prior.  I have a Toyota powered mid-engined 59' Mini project that is nearing completion and yesterday while hanging the doors and installing the new door handles and latch mechanism I ran into a mystery.  I cannot figure out how the door handles bolt to the body.  Is there some shim or gasket that goes inside the door skin that holds the door handles to the body?  The backside of the handle has two threaded attachment points which are much deeper then the door skin itself so there is no way to tighten down the handles.  And I cannot find any mention of any hardware or "install kit" on any of the typical Mini spares websites with relation to these door handles. 

 

Also, the  door latch mechanism has three bolt holes but only two have matching threaded holes in the door to screw into.  How is the third hold (closest to front of car) used?  I have attached a picture... you can see the missing screw. Oddly, that missing screw hole lines up perfectly with the screw for the door handle itself.  Are they related?  

 

Any and all guidance is greatly appreciated!  I want to get this car on the road! 

 

 

Eric, San Diego, California....

Attached Files

•  IMG_0826-01.jpg   18.69K   12 downloads

[Old Bob]

You have lost me a bit there Eric.  The handles fit on square rods which go through the skin and through the latch mechanism.  They are held on by a screw into the end of the rod.  On mine, the third hole is secured by a nut and bolt.

 

Bob

[nickhallencourt]

undo them 2 remaining screws, and that plate will become lose, gently pull it away from the door so the door handle bolt (square) pulls out of the hole, soon as you get this off, it will uncover the remaining screws that hold everything else on

[timmy850]

And don't tell the '59 guys that you hacked one up to put a Toyota engine in it either!

[midridge2]

The latch part you show in the picture has as you said 3 holes, 2 of them screw into captive nuts on the frame, the third one is the same bolt/screw but you need to put your own nut on the back.
The handle part does  as you said have 2 threaded studs, normally nothing goes on them and what keeps the handle in place is the long square metal rod that goes into the latch part has a screw and washer in the end to stop the handle from dropping out, but, you can but 2 small bits of tubing and washers per handle and nuts and fit those to the threaded studs on the handle.

[ace01]

The two threaded parts of the door handle, the bits that push through the door skin, have a small tube about 1/4 in long over them.  These then have a washer holding them down when the screw is inserted.  The tube pushes against the inside of the door skin as suggested above.