Replaced Black Door Handles with Color-Matched ...
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Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 270
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From: Longview, WA USA
Replaced Black Door Handles with Color-Matched ...
I bought a used '99 XL and decided to upgrade it to an XLT because most of the things on an XLT don't even suit me. Like the factory mirrors. I replaced my mirrors with CAL-VU manual mirrors and painted them to match. It looks terrific!
Well, then I wanted the painted to match door handles too. So I ran a classified ad and got the driver's side handle from a nice guy in Arizona. I found the passenger side handle in a large salvage yard. It was kind of fun to change them out. The whole process took me about 2-1/2 hours. Not too bad. Having exactly the right tools makes all the difference in the world.
Anyway, my next little project is to change out the non-locking tailgate handle for a new one that has the lock. And, in the process, I'm going to sand it down and paint it to match my truck too. I saw one that was done that way and it looked terrific!!
Just thought you would be interested.
BillVoyles
RedLowRyder
Well, then I wanted the painted to match door handles too. So I ran a classified ad and got the driver's side handle from a nice guy in Arizona. I found the passenger side handle in a large salvage yard. It was kind of fun to change them out. The whole process took me about 2-1/2 hours. Not too bad. Having exactly the right tools makes all the difference in the world.
Anyway, my next little project is to change out the non-locking tailgate handle for a new one that has the lock. And, in the process, I'm going to sand it down and paint it to match my truck too. I saw one that was done that way and it looked terrific!!
Just thought you would be interested.
BillVoyles
RedLowRyder
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 150
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From: Austin TX.
Bill, will you post some pic, if you can when your done. What color is your truck? This is something that I have been throwing around for awhile. I just don't want to pay someone to do it. I would love to hear how you did it when your done. Thanks. Dageon
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Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 270
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From: Longview, WA USA
Just Ordered The New Locking Tailgate Handle ...
It should be in Thursday 1-10-02. It won't take long to sand down the rough finish on the new handle. I'll take the new handle apart so I can do a better job of sanding, priming and painting it.
One secret of painting is to use the right color primer. My truck is E4 Red so I used Red Oxide Primer to shoot my mirrors and they came out color-matched. Use gray if your truck is white and so forth. Then, after you have the final wet color coat on, and it begins to tack up, you want to shoot it with at least two coats of Clear-Coat. That way it will match your clear-coat paint perfectly.
I have already removed the panel inside the tailgate. You'll need a 30mm Torx-drive to remove six screws. After I remove and replace the handle, I'll explain how it is done. There is really nothing to it. You just make sure you watch where the levers connect to the handle from both sides, and install the new handle exactly the same way as the old one came out. Taking a picture of it with a digital camera before you disassemble it might help. But, I just jump in there like a bull in a china shop!
BillVoyles
RedLowRyder
It should be in Thursday 1-10-02. It won't take long to sand down the rough finish on the new handle. I'll take the new handle apart so I can do a better job of sanding, priming and painting it.
One secret of painting is to use the right color primer. My truck is E4 Red so I used Red Oxide Primer to shoot my mirrors and they came out color-matched. Use gray if your truck is white and so forth. Then, after you have the final wet color coat on, and it begins to tack up, you want to shoot it with at least two coats of Clear-Coat. That way it will match your clear-coat paint perfectly.
I have already removed the panel inside the tailgate. You'll need a 30mm Torx-drive to remove six screws. After I remove and replace the handle, I'll explain how it is done. There is really nothing to it. You just make sure you watch where the levers connect to the handle from both sides, and install the new handle exactly the same way as the old one came out. Taking a picture of it with a digital camera before you disassemble it might help. But, I just jump in there like a bull in a china shop!
BillVoyles
RedLowRyder