Door handles

[tragic59]

My 66 has the newer push button style door handles on it.

I like the look of the older "crab claw" type door handles...

Will they swap over directly? Or are the internal mechanisms different?

What about the holes in the doors? Different?

Anybody have any experience with this?

[Jeffc]

Really the only way to do this swap right is to swap doors.
Hole in the door is much larger with the pull handle, lock
and striker is differant, really a differant system than
the pull handles. Though the door looks the same and
for the most part is the same door, as almost eveything
else will swap bolt to bolt mid 61 though 71.
There are some differances on the inside that would
not be noticed over the years till you try to swap
early to late parts
Your 66 should have come with pull handles since the
change to the pushbutton handles did not start till 67.
More than likely a previous owner swapped the doors
and/cab into your truck.
Let me give a little history of doors from the little I know:
1)pull (frig) handle doors
A) 61 to 63/64 wing is held to top frame with 3 screws from outside
of upper door frame (not positive on year change here),
armrest is optional 2 piece hard bottem padded top
B) 65 to 66 wing is held by one screw though the gasket to corner
of upper frame, wing window divider is changed.
arm rest is U shaped padded molded

2)pushbutton handle doors
A)67 change to pushbutton handle on most trucks, some Canada
built still have pull handles, last year of metal inside panel,
armrest is same as 66
B)68 to 71 fiber glass inside panel, inside handle is changed,
wing lock change, armrest is padded molded brick

I'm sure I may have missed something, but that is most of it.

[tragic59]

Wow... Thanks.

I guess I don't like the door handles enough to change out the entire door...

[Jeffc]

Once you find a good set of doors (not that easy to find good doors)
the swap is not that bad, 6 bolts to swap hinges and 2 to change
the striker for the lock, then of course you have to have them
panted to match the rest of the truck........
61 to 71 they all fit the same in the cab.
Really the the late pushbutton doors is a stronger system
than the pull handle, as many will tell you.

[John Duncan]

Inside door handle will not stay on toothed spindle because teeth are so worn. Any suggestions?

[wideblock]

find you another inside mechanism. they are held on with 3 screws, real easy to change. on my 66, till i changed the mechanism, i pressed alum foil over the knob, then crammed the inside handle back on and tightened the snot out of the set screw. worked for a while

[mopar-maniac]

Hey Jeff,

Appreciate the info. I'll have to look my truck over next time I'm on the farm. The title says it's a 66, but it has the push button doors. I wouldn't be suprised if the title is screwy, but I doubt the doors on mine have been changed as it's a crew cab. I've been debating this one for years. Guess I should right down the vin # as well, one of these days.

Here's to Jeff!

[John Duncan]

Thanks wideblock for the tip. Having problem finding the replacement part.