The ever present mopar door handle indention...solutions?

[Chad Hilburn]

Hey guys, this has probably been asked before, but has anyone figured out a real way to minimize or remove very common door handle indention on these cars? It seems like even though you go through all the body work and you do all the paint, when you put that door handle on, it goes right back into an indented state. Even if you use those so called stabilizing plates. I get that the metal is probably fatigued there from all the door opening and closing, and it's always worse on the driver's side, but has anyone really figured out a way to minimize that that actually works?

 

[mmissile]

Character and history. Most has been destroyed ...

 

[R413]

What year of car are you talking about.

 

[Bird 426]

It's way after the fact, but I never strong arm a door shut. I start it and let the weight of the door close it.

 

[RemCharger]

I've only seen this on the early 70s trucks, before they modified the doors.

 

[gkent]

I don't use the door handle to close the door. I give the door a push and let its weight do the rest. Likewise to open the door I push the button and the door mechanism pops it out and the handle only serves to move the door on well-adjusted and lubed hinges.

 

[dadsbee]

I close doors like Jay Leno closes hoods.. hell I do that now too.. No dents...

 

[Chad Hilburn]

What year of car are you talking about.

68 b body

 

[Chad Hilburn]

I close doors like Jay Leno closes hoods.. hell I do that now too.. No dents...
View attachment 1963037

Well, it's a weird thing you know. Because yeah, like I said, when you have one of these cars done, you get it back, the body work's done, the dent's not there . Believe me I don't over tighten the handle and I use the stabilizer plates, but you still end up getting the dent right back, or should I say mild warp indention

 

[dadsbee]

Did you put epoxy under the reinforce plate???

6 cars.. I have no handle dents.

 

[RT68440]

I put the stabilizer plates in the doors on my Charger. Holding them up to the doors I still noticed a small void in between the plate and the door which would still let the skin suck in when the handle is tightened. I ended up using panel bond to hold the plates in. I had the doors off which made it easier because I laid the doors face down and let the plates sit into the panel bond and they dried with the plates and door skin in a relaxed state. So this way there is no where for the skin to go when tightening the handle. I'm also going to use nylocks on the door handle mounting studs so I don't have to kill anything to keep it from loosening. Not sure how it will work because the car is not finished yet but hey, it sounds good!

 

[QuickBpBp]

I have seen these and some people use them to help prevent what you are talking about...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/4061850897...25ad&msclkid=2d94e575694a172aad238c35c4f325ad

 

[Chad Hilburn]

Did you put epoxy under the reinforce plate???

6 cars.. I have no handle dents.
View attachment 1963060

I did not... never heard of that. What is the procedure and what product?

 

[dadsbee]

I did not... never heard of that. What is the procedure and what product?

Piece of paper right in the package, at least from Mega Parts, to put a bonder / filler between the plate and door and let it set up before tightening the handle. I just grab what ever is handy, in this case some JB plastic bonder as it dries quickly.

 

[YY1]

I've never owned a 68.
T
Three 66's, three 67's and a 70.
...but I've never had that problem.