'90-'94 Town Car Inside Door Release Handles

[1997ThunderbirdLXV6]

Yup, I did it. Square peg, round hole, and all. I love it; I can't help myself!

It's a simple swap. I don't even care about the opening. I replaced the foam so it looks clean/new, and I'll check how the ambient lighting behaves tonight.

 

[XR7-4.6]

Angle dependent, this looks pretty good




This would drive me absolutely nuts though lol



Maybe find a chrome piece to fill the corner of that triangle

 

[1997ThunderbirdLXV6]

Angle dependent, this looks pretty good

This would drive me absolutely nuts though lol

Sounds like that old doctor joke:

Patient - "Anytime I do this, it hurts."
Doctor - "Then don't do that."

I mean you really never look at it flat on like on that picture; you pretty much only see it down from an angle.

Maybe find a chrome piece to fill the corner of that triangle

Actually that wouldn't be too difficult. I'll think about it.

 

[1997ThunderbirdLXV6]

As expected, the ambient lighting is the same but  more because the light has more room to exit that opening.

 

[supergordo]

I like the lighting. I think the handle looks good. Though for me, I'd make something to cover the rear edge of the handle. the handle being chrome makes the square edge of the handle noticeable. It seems like it fits pretty nice.

 

[Derphound01]

I think it would look great on a grey interior. To me, it clashes too much with the saddle brown.

But I'm also not allowed to decorate at the house because of my design tastes. So there's that.

 

[Irv]

I had a longer post written up that touched on this in the junkyard crawl thread, but I never posted it. Personally, if I were to do this at all, I would powder coat a more appropriately shaped '95-97 Town Car door handle matte black. Maybe even an oil-rubbed bronze if we're trying to do something unique. That would also make the triangular gap less prominent from some angles and make it easier to fabricate some sort of triangular wedge out of whatever appropriate material to fill some of the gap and it wouldn't have to be chromed to match.

Still not a fan of the chrome, but it's not my car or budget. The lighting worked out well though.

 

[1997ThunderbirdLXV6]

a more appropriately shaped '95-97 Town Car door handle

I tried those, too. The metal along the base plate is taller, and it hits the bottom edge of the triangle opening in the trim bezel (sorry, I didn't take a photo). So it would require additional modification to fit.

The handle itself is also a bit shorter than the <'95 one I used.

Initially I actually preferred the newer handle because it's more rounded. But the easy installation of the older handle, albeit more angular, makes it the better choice in my opinion.


The chrome is a matter of taste of course. I love it; I think it works great with the wood, too.

 

[1997ThunderbirdLXV6]

I think I'm pretty much committed to this mod. Should I put up my leather-wrapped handles for sale? The stitching was a lot of work; would be a shame not to use them.

 

[1997ThunderbirdLXV6]

@XR7-4.6

Just looking at the other thread, you went from:



to:

Angle dependent, this looks pretty good

We need an emoticon that means that.

 

[XR7-4.6]

I’m evolving my opinion based on new evidence, that better angle merits this emoticon:

remains for the straight on view

 

[1997ThunderbirdLXV6]

that better angle merits this emoticon:

Matt, that is literally my favorite emoticon. We're good!

 

[1997ThunderbirdLXV6]

What's different?



See it?


Well, I have been criticized for the not entirely right fit in the triangular opening, which had been filled with black foam like so:



It didn't bother me terribly, but I felt I could improve the look slightly by applying a layer of leftover faux suede over the foam:

 

[XR7-4.6]

I still don't think I'd do it to mine but that filler indeed makes a substantial improvement

 

[1997ThunderbirdLXV6]

I still don't think I'd do it to mine

We'll see. You need to touch them, feel them, smell them to fully appreciate them!

that filler indeed makes a substantial improvement

That actually means a lot coming from you!

 

[Vicinity]

You can show so much leg with those handles!

 

[1997ThunderbirdLXV6]

You can show so much leg with those handles!

Omg, you saw that! I tried a few times to take pics without any "weird" reflections, but I gave up...

 

[XR7-4.6]

 

[White Lincoln]

I still don't think I'd do it to mine but that filler indeed makes a substantial improvement

I guess I could use a light in my door handle if I could not find the door handle in the middle of the night when my overhead lamp is burned out, the rear seat lights are burned out, the dash lights don't work and I can't open the door to turn on the rear door lamps...

 

[1997ThunderbirdLXV6]

Metal door releases + 98°F ambient temperature = burned fingers.