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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Body, Glass & Paint => Topic started by: pendergraft2111 on January 31, 2012, 04:59:40 pm

Title: Shaved locks and handles?
Post by: pendergraft2111 on January 31, 2012, 04:59:40 pm: I am trying to keep a flat look on my truck and I am avoiding chrome like the plague. I have boiled it down to 2 options... Paint my handles or shave them. What do you think?

I checked the store here and didn't find a kit. Can you recommend one? pound rating? My door is all electric right now. I checked airbagit.com and I am looking at about 100$
Title: Re: Shaved locks and handles?
Post by: Captkaos on January 31, 2012, 05:07:47 pm: Are you planning on driving it often? If the answer is yes, avoid shaved handles. I had them for 8 years and after 3 I hated them.
Title: Re: Shaved locks and handles?
Post by: pendergraft2111 on January 31, 2012, 06:33:45 pm: I have a company truck so weekends when the whole family isn't going... let's say rarely... lol
Title: Re: Shaved locks and handles?
Post by: VileZambonie on January 31, 2012, 07:07:27 pm: I agree with captn, it looks cool on some rides but is a pita. I have them on my stepside and have to get in through the vent window because they stopped working and I haven't had time to diagnose. I'm keeping locks and handles on my 74 but smoothed everything else. Do you like black chrome?
Title: Re: Shaved locks and handles?
Post by: Irish_Alley on January 31, 2012, 08:52:16 pm: i have them on my 79 and like the others i hate them. one time one of the relays froze on and caused a little problem. other times if its to cold the will freeze up lucky i kind of have long arms and legs so reaching threw the vent isnt to hard on a lifted truck
Title: Re: Shaved locks and handles?
Post by: Bitzer! on February 04, 2012, 04:15:18 pm: I've gone for the shaved look. I'm not a chrome lover and the handles I had were ugly and had outlived there looks. Gone for the popper kit as the truck will be high days and holidays so it's not so much of a problem.
Title: Re: Shaved locks and handles?
Post by: Blazin on February 05, 2012, 09:51:19 am: Here's a pic of mine.
(http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q165/BlazinK30/86%20GMC%20rebuild/STA70043.jpg)
I also paid the extra few bucks for black door locks from Auto Zone. Within a year the black had worn off!!!
Overall pic.
(http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q165/BlazinK30/86%20GMC%20rebuild/102_0437.jpg)
All the stainless or chrome is painted. Its chipped off the stainless trim around the grill. One of these days I will redo that!
Title: Re: Shaved locks and handles?
Post by: bake74 on February 05, 2012, 10:28:18 am: I am with everyone else. I would only put them on a show vehicle that was made to draw attention to it. I deal with electrical all day long, and I have learned, the more electronics that are on one item, the more chances 1 or more of the systems could have a problem.
Title: Re: Shaved locks and handles?
Post by: pendergraft2111 on February 05, 2012, 01:20:12 pm: It's clearly leaning one way... has anyone ever used this PlastiDip stuff they sell at homedepot. It's like spray on vinyl and a lot of people are using it to paint their rims... It may be an option
Title: Re: Shaved locks and handles?
Post by: Blazin on February 05, 2012, 03:27:57 pm: Acrylic enamel on mine.
Ground the chrome with 36 grit grinding wheel, and a pointed bit on a die grinder. Sprayed it with self etching primer, and urethane primer. Sanded every square inch of them with 320 grit sand paper, and sprayed with activated acrylic enamel. Then re assembled the push button into them.
Title: Re: Shaved locks and handles?
Post by: black85k10 on February 06, 2012, 01:22:30 pm: They are not shaved but one day on gears on spike tv. they had a kit that you could get to weld in to make the door handles flat. Kindig - Smooth Door Handles are the name of them.
Title: Re: Shaved locks and handles?
Post by: black85k10 on February 06, 2012, 01:32:07 pm: just went and looked them up. they are a little on the pricey side i think
Title: Re: Shaved locks and handles?
Post by: winky on February 06, 2012, 02:39:32 pm: Quote from: black85k10 on February 06, 2012, 01:22:30 pm
They are not shaved but one day on gears on spike tv. they had a kit that you could get to weld in to make the door handles flat. Kindig - Smooth Door Handles are the name of them.

http://www.kindigit.com/store.php ;)
Title: Re: Shaved locks and handles?
Post by: 1979C20 on February 06, 2012, 03:06:26 pm: Those are sexy.
Title: Re: Shaved locks and handles?
Post by: pendergraft2111 on February 06, 2012, 04:05:01 pm: I really like those handles... thanks for adding something new to the wishlist but at around 600 they are near the bottom of the list...lol
Title: Re: Shaved locks and handles?
Post by: 69byrd on February 07, 2012, 08:39:18 am: As everyone has said stick with the handle. I have had the shaved handles on one truck and I will never have them on another one. They were a major pain in the butt!
Title: Re: Shaved locks and handles?
Post by: muddnutz on February 19, 2012, 05:02:18 pm: I always wanted to try door handles on a early/mid 90's truck