I also prefer the look with the handle lower down. I'd like to set mine even a bit lower than yours. I'll probably fail but I want to try.
What color is your gel coat? (What RAL)
What color is your gel coat? (What RAL)
Rebody Door locks on Rebody
- Thread starter Dxbolton
- Start date
It's black ral9005. I'd originally asked for grey as I'm spraying the car silver.
Chris offered me the 1st 507 mould that he's used for production/marketing at a decent price which also reduced my waiting time by 6 weeks.
That said, I've had to fettle quite a bit as this was the 1st mould. Biggest fettle so far was front indicators. I think the shape on mine is different to Dan's. When he fitted his karmann ghia indicators they were great with no fettling. When I tried fitting mine, they were pointing downwards (slightly different curve). I think subsequent moulds have all been fine. Managed to overcome it by recessing them which give it a bit of a retro mod look
You could lower the handle by fitting a longer bracket on the inside.
I used Chris's original dimensions and adjusted to suit my needs. I also made a cut out to release the original zed hanlde spring which has released the tension and makes opening the doors a breeze
Chris offered me the 1st 507 mould that he's used for production/marketing at a decent price which also reduced my waiting time by 6 weeks.
That said, I've had to fettle quite a bit as this was the 1st mould. Biggest fettle so far was front indicators. I think the shape on mine is different to Dan's. When he fitted his karmann ghia indicators they were great with no fettling. When I tried fitting mine, they were pointing downwards (slightly different curve). I think subsequent moulds have all been fine. Managed to overcome it by recessing them which give it a bit of a retro mod look
You could lower the handle by fitting a longer bracket on the inside.
I used Chris's original dimensions and adjusted to suit my needs. I also made a cut out to release the original zed hanlde spring which has released the tension and makes opening the doors a breeze
I ordered my kit just under a month ago so I still have a while to get my head round things. This week I'm planning on mounting a sheet of f/g to my steel door over the current handle to mock up the skin in that area and play with a few ideas. Originally I was planning on doing this
https://zroadster.org/attachments/screenshot-2023-10-01-at-11-38-01-jpg.279069/
But I don't think there's enough of a gap between the skins for the z3 handle to lift far enough. So that idea is scrapped.
I just want to chop about with a mock up rather than messing too much with the real skin when it arrives.
I've ordered mine in RAL 7015 slate grey. I'm not sure whether to paint grey, green or white. I've had white cars and green cars so want to live with a grey one for a while before deciding what color to paint it.
https://zroadster.org/attachments/screenshot-2023-10-01-at-11-38-01-jpg.279069/
But I don't think there's enough of a gap between the skins for the z3 handle to lift far enough. So that idea is scrapped.
I just want to chop about with a mock up rather than messing too much with the real skin when it arrives.
I've ordered mine in RAL 7015 slate grey. I'm not sure whether to paint grey, green or white. I've had white cars and green cars so want to live with a grey one for a while before deciding what color to paint it.
Did you by any chance take a photo of your cut out on the Zed door - and that bracket to the plunger? In fact anything to indicate where your cutout is on a zed door and what your bracket is attached to?
Thanks
I started with Chris's original cut outs and made them bigger to suit my needs. Having a larger plate meant that it was easier to lower the mini handle and fit a bracket on the plungerto hit the pivot point higher.
Started off with a 65mm L bracket and bent it over.
The small cut out above the handle is to release the zed handle spring which releases the tension.
Handle operation us really easy now.
All of the cuts were made without having to remove the original zed handle. You'll need to remove the plastic trim around the handle hough. Blunt chisel will do this.
Started off with a 65mm L bracket and bent it over.
The small cut out above the handle is to release the zed handle spring which releases the tension.
Handle operation us really easy now.
All of the cuts were made without having to remove the original zed handle. You'll need to remove the plastic trim around the handle hough. Blunt chisel will do this.
Attachments
Dunc
I had originally thought of mgb ones as they're relatively cheap brand new and no key to worry about......not that I'm using the key on my mini ones. I just prefer the feel and shape of the mini ones.
Pic of an mgb one for reference.
I used self adhesive felt pads on the pivot plate to soften the sound of metal on metal when opening the door. Think I got them in b and q (floor protectors for furniture feet).
Cheers
Steve
I had originally thought of mgb ones as they're relatively cheap brand new and no key to worry about......not that I'm using the key on my mini ones. I just prefer the feel and shape of the mini ones.
Pic of an mgb one for reference.
I used self adhesive felt pads on the pivot plate to soften the sound of metal on metal when opening the door. Think I got them in b and q (floor protectors for furniture feet).
Cheers
Steve
Attachments
Thanks Steve,
I saw on one of tribute's pages this kit. Is this the one you got from Chris?
Those door handles are very low. What mechanism of L brackets or whatever did Chris use to get them that low? I don't want mine that low but would be interested in knowing how that was done.
BTW. That blue door with the MGB handle. Are they a forum member? Any links to pics of their car?
Thanks
Ian
Hi Ian....not Dunc then (assumed by profile name 
).
Yep, that's my one
Handle holes filled in by the time I got it.
This was the mock up vehicle. Think they may be fiat barchetta ones which would have been great as they'd be close to how the original 507 handle looked and operated but I don't think Chris was able to get them to work.
Maybe I should have spent a bit of time researching it for myself....but my thought process was that if Chris can't get them to work...what chance would I have....also at £150 a pair for 2nd hand ones.....it's a bit of a gamble.
I don't think the guy with the blue one is a member.....plus he might not be happy that I've taken a screenshot of his handles.
Cheers
Steve
).Yep, that's my one
Handle holes filled in by the time I got it.
This was the mock up vehicle. Think they may be fiat barchetta ones which would have been great as they'd be close to how the original 507 handle looked and operated but I don't think Chris was able to get them to work.
Maybe I should have spent a bit of time researching it for myself....but my thought process was that if Chris can't get them to work...what chance would I have....also at £150 a pair for 2nd hand ones.....it's a bit of a gamble.
I don't think the guy with the blue one is a member.....plus he might not be happy that I've taken a screenshot of his handles.
Cheers
Steve
Duncodin as in "Done Coding". You see people put "Dunroamin" signs on their house once they settle down. Well, I'm Dun Codin although I still tinker a bit. Not going to put a sign on the house but might put one on the greenhouse or garage just for a laugh.
Chris said something to me a while ago about Alpha handles which couldn't be made to work. Door opened and closed OK but left some pressure on the internal mechanism which prevent central locking working - or something like that.
I think I'm going to order an MGB handle just to look at it but I'm worried that it's a bit small (175mm) for the look of the car - I won't know till I try it though.
Chris said something to me a while ago about Alpha handles which couldn't be made to work. Door opened and closed OK but left some pressure on the internal mechanism which prevent central locking working - or something like that.
I think I'm going to order an MGB handle just to look at it but I'm worried that it's a bit small (175mm) for the look of the car - I won't know till I try it though.
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I am english with German kin.
Currently in south wales.
Currently in south wales.
.
Dxbolton
Zorg Guru (II)
Those handles are Alfa Romeo as these were what Chris had intended to use. I spent weeks trying to get them to work but to no avail.
Looked great but I lost the will to live with them
Those handles are very low. Could you say what the method was for connecting them up?Those handles are Alfa Romeo as these were what Chris had intended to use. I spent weeks trying to get them to work but to no avail.
Looked great but I lost the will to live with them
Dxbolton
Zorg Guru (II)
It was interconnecting levers.
I won’t share with you as it never worked properly, was hard to set up, likely to fail in use, and ditched in favour of a different solution
When you pull the lever there was 10mm of movement which I felt was not enough. Current handles is near 15mm which works fine
Thanks. Interconnecting levers. No. Not going there.
Now that I know they were alfa handles, I wish I'd looked at the fiat barchetta ones. Push button moves the handle from being bodywork flush to an external lever type handle. If you were able to rig this up to pull the existing zed handle, it would be similar to the original 507 