I need an education! I'm getting ready to replace the quarter panels so I'm prepping the doors so I can fit them together. My car is a Supreme convertible and doors are pretty rusty so I'm stripping the good parts to transfer to a good set of doors from a Cutlass "S"; I discovered the interior door handle mechanisms are different. The "S" door mechanisms have shorter shafts than the ones from my Supreme doors. In my 35 years of working on 71-72 Cutlai <sp> I've never encountered this. Can anyone shed some light on this? Here's a pic.

The Cutlass "S" in on the left, the Supreme is on the right.

 

You need the longer releases for cars with a chrome plastic backing plate.

 

mrolds69:
That's so obvious! I've never owned a Cutlass S, all my cars have been supremes. Thanks!

Rodney

 

Glad to help! It's really not that obvious...it baffles many people when they swap doors.

 

Now for the $64k question - where can new[ish] Supreme mechanisms be found? All of mine (two pairs) have tons of slop after 40+ years of yanking around.

 

The 64K answer is - no place I know of repro's them.

 

I've made a cursory check with several Olds vendors with no luck finding the longer shaft mechanisms for the Supreme body style. It looks like used is the only source for these.
Rodney

 

I just pulled one today. $40.00 shipped sound good? Paypal is scottawinn@sbcglobal.net

 

Scott, always showing up with a deal in hand.

How much slop is in the mechanism?

 

Very little if any at all and the spring is still in good condition. A little clean and lube and it's ready to install.

 

Payment sent, thanks!