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Painting Door Handles (or Anything Else)

SnowTrojan

Full Member
Joined
Jun 13, 2003
Messages
399
Location
Orange County, CA
Sorry for all the newbie posts... but inquiring minds want to know, and y'all seem to know a lot!

So I'm gonna get the the chrome door handles off the EXT, and the housings come in ready-to-paint black. To save money, I want to paint it myself.

So my questions... do I need to sand it first, and how many layers each of primer/color/clearcoat would you recommend? And how long to fully cure?
 
I have not had mine apart to look, but can't you use your stock housings with the chrome EXT handle?

Butch
 
it depends on the paint ya use .....check the back of the can.......I would be prepared to wet sand and etc......at least 24 hours cure per coat......
 
Z66 BUTCH said:
I have not had mine apart to look, but can't you use your stock housings with the chrome EXT handle?

Butch


you are correct Z66 Butch. that is how i installed mine. it is kind of a pain, but looks so much better (i think) than the aftermarket painted ones. i only say this because i have seen the jobs done on two sets from the local Chevy dealer. :D: they got paint on the chrome handle, and there was some orange peel effect also.
what i did was take a punch and drive out the pins holding the handle in the bezel. make sure you squeeze the feathered end of the pin before hammering out. note: do not drive the pin completely from the bezel. do the same to your AV handle. be very careful not to scratch the paint on the bezel when hammering the pin back into place.
the key cylinder is held in place by a snap-ring. expand it to remove the ring. then remove the key cylinder. place the cylinder in the new bezel and secure with snap-ring.
i started telling you this as if you already knew how to remove the handle. if not: starting from the driver's door remove the sail panel from the leading top edge of the door. grab it with your fingers at the top and bottom and pull.
remove screws at the bottom of door panel and behind the grab handle.
pop the door panel switch assembly off by releasing the tabs in the gap between the switch panel and the door panel. if you pull gently you can popit out with your hands. or, you can use a screwdriver to push tabs away from you to unlock them. remove wiring harness.
from the grab handle and bottom of door lift up until plastic clips inside panel release from door. then twist away from inside door handle.
gently pull away plastic from door. look for a black cap on the trailing edge of the door right of the outside door handle. pop it out of hole. this is where you will remove one of the screws which holds the handle in place. there are two more screws to take out.
BE CAREFUL! there is a metal rod inside the door panel that will filet your arm real easy. i speak from experience.
the rear doors are quite similar. if i left anything out please add to what i explained. it has been about 8 months since i did this. the thing i remember the most was the blood left behind from the metal rod in the door panel. :8:
 
You can get the prepainted Escalade door handles from Van de Vere for less than $31.00 each. Talk to Dal and he can set you up. For this price it doesnot make sense to go and buy primer, paint, and clearcoat then do it yourself (unless you get the handles for free).
 
Does anyone know who this Van de Vere is?? is it a web site? I like that price, please let me know? :B:
 
alexvill said:
Does anyone know who this Van de Vere is?? is it a web site? I like that price, please let me know? :B:

They're a dealer... I don't know their website address though. Myron, do you have it ?
 
alexvill said:
Does anyone know who this Van de Vere is?? is it a web site? I like that price, please let me know? :B:
Alex,,Van DeVere's is a site partner that offers parts at 10% over cost call Dal Slaybaugh at 1-800-362-9494...Located in Akron, Ohio
 
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