cdrod

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.

mrolds69

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

cdrod

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

Rodney

mrolds69

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

oddball

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.

mrolds69

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

cdrod

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

oldspackrat

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

oddball

Scott, always showing up with a deal in hand.

How much slop is in the mechanism?

oldspackrat

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.

cdrod

Payment sent, thanks!