Driver side

Passenger side


Not exactly sure how to term this piece which is making it difficult to find. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

If this is a Culass/442, you can find these parts at OPGI or many other places.

They’re called kick panels. The factor ones had no provisions for speakers. What I see are aftermarket replacements molded to accommodate front speakers.

There are tons of these available. Happy hunting. This should be easy & fun.

Chris

 

That emergency brake handle might be a little harder. I know it would be for the big cars, but this too is something, for Cutlass/442’s, easy to find.

Chris

 

I got them ordered and they will be here in about a week. Thanks a ton for the help. The E-brake handle and the hood latch mechanism are next.

 

The remainder of the old (broken) e-brake can just be popped off correct? Whats the process on installing the new one? Thanks in advance.

 

Not that easy. You probably won't be able to just pull it off. Those handles were pressed on and TIGHT. Get some wire cutters or a fine small hacksaw to remove what's left on the metal "pull rod".

Similar thing on installing a new handle possibly (on NOS GM replacement handles I've installed)...basically impossible to push on into place. Maybe repro handles are different...haven't tried this w/any repro handle. NOS GM handle required some careful enlarging of the hole (drilling) to create a bit more room and then it probably helps to mix up a small amount of epoxy and put that in the hole to help once the handle is jammed on. You don't want it to be such a tight fit that you need some serious hammering to get the new handle on (handle can break from hard hammering).....then again, you don't want it so loose that the only thing holding it on is the glue.

You'll also see that the end of the metal rod is splined (once you remove what's left on there of the broken handle)....so you need to pay attention to installing the new handle in a level position (ie - splines also prevent rotation of the handle once it's pushed on over the splined part of the metal pull handle/rod).

 

I've not done this specific job. For those that have, is it a situation where freezing the rod and warming the handle would be worth a try?

 

I got off easy, was prob a reproduction as vice grips did the trick.

 

 

Probably not a repro part......the originals seem to mostly last forever. I've never had one come off easily but that doesn't mean they won't.

I seriously doubt freezing/heating would do anything. Also................I think SugarBear has it backwards.....you would want to freeze the rod and heat up the handle (ie - shrink the metal rod and expand the plastic handle). To get the handle hot enough to do anything would probably mean getting it to the "plastic" stage where only slight pressure would bend/distort the handle. Not worth the risk IMO. I installed a NOS handle on an assembly a couple months ago and used the "drill and check/fit" method along with a slight amount of epoxy on the final install. If you are going to tap on the new handle at all it's best to wrap it w/a few layers of masking tape to prevent gouges/nicks/etc.

Who knows?? The factory that made these things probably had some specialized piece of equipment to press the original handles on to the pull rod.