Polished Aluminum OEM style Door Pins

[Donny Carlson]

These are EXTREMELY nice. Last summer I ordered machined door pins... like these:

http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/data/502/1136DSC00519.JPG

Now these look good, but I'm used to resting my elbow on the windowsill as I drive, and this big ass door pin jabs me in the arm. So I decided to order OEM style pins, only these are polished aluminum instead of brushed. I also sprung for the polished aluminum bezels. (I'm giving the old pins to the Toddster)

Here are the new pins compared to OEM:

http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/data/500/1136DSC01683.JPG

http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/data/500/1136DSC01684.JPG

http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/data/500/1136DSC01687.JPG

I'll post up pics tomorrow when I install them.

[BruteForce]

Okay man... spill it. Where can those beauties be found?

[DirtyDog]

Okay man... spill it. Where can those beauties be found?
What he said.

[hitchhiker]

I want 'em too, how much?

:D

[shakes_26]

I want 'em too, how much?

:D
they look like ones from UPR, there not terribly expensive.

[Donny Carlson]

I couldn't wait, so out to driveway I went and installed the pins and bezels.

Here are shots:

http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/data/500/1136DSC01711.JPG

http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/data/500/1136DSC01709.JPG

http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/data/500/1136DSC01712.JPG

http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/data/500/1136DSC01713.JPG


Okay, install took about a half hour and it did not require removing the door panels. That said, removing the door panel may be the best way to remove the old bezels, which are tight tight tight. Not removing the door panels requires you to sacrifice the old bezels. You DO NOT want to pry them out of the door panels, because they are so tight you may damage the vinyl cover of the panel and or make an unlsightly mark. Don't ask me how I know this.

The way to do it is to use a wire cutter to make several snips vertically to the top plastic ring. Then CAREFULLY snip out the segments removing the ring that rests on the door panel. What you'll have left is the shaft of the old bezel, which can be pushed down into the door when you insert the new aluminum bezel. It will not fall down into the door, just be moved down further along the threaded shaft of the door pin mechanism. Even though the new bezel looks larger around than the OEM bezel, it is in fact a tiny bit smaller, so you may want to use a spot of trim glue to hold it securely in place. I left mine without glue to see how it works out -- they seem to be held in securely. And be damn careful when you snip out the segments not to nip the vynil trim.

I'm sure the best way would be to remove the door panel and push it out from
inside, but that's a lot of work to accomplish basically the same thing.

These can be had from UPR Products WWW.uprproducts.com (http://www.uprproducts.com). They come machined or polished, polished is an extra charge and adds about 2 weeks to your order time.

[martyo]

These are endorsed by LK! I have them too, but will be removing the door skins to do the install as I do not want to risk damaging the door skins which have custom stitching on them.

By the way, I wish I had thought of this mod, but again the props go to Donny The Man Diamond Nutz!

[Donny Carlson]

These are endorsed by LK! I have them too, but will be removing the door skins to do the install as I do not want to risk damaging the door skins which have custom stitching on them.

By the way, I wish I had thought of this mod, but again the props go to Donny The Man Diamond Nutz!
Absolutely you'll want to take off the skins. They should glue the bezels while they are off, too.

Considering the panels cost over $400 a pop, it aint a bad idea to take them off even if you don't have custom work done to them.

[BruteForce]

Donny,
I can't tell from the UPR site, but are the pins and/or bezels sold as pairs or singles?

[martyo]

Donny,
I can't tell from the UPR site, but are the pins and/or bezels sold as pairs or singles?

Pairs. I have 'em. There is an upcharge for the polishing. The pin/surround price is like 20 bucks per pair not including the upcharge for polishing.

[BruteForce]

Thanks Marty. Order placed.

[Svashtar]

These are EXTREMELY nice. Last summer I ordered machined door pins... like these:

Donny, I have these same aluminum ones that you had, and in fact you turned me onto them last year as I recall.

Question: wouldn't you be able to get these new ones that look like the OEM unit WITHOUT buying the bezels? I'm not too wild about removing the door panels and wrecking the old bezels, esp. for new ones that don't fit quite as well, but agree about the arm rest irritation and like the stock shape in that regard.

Thanks for any info!

Norm

P.S. Never mind! Should have checked them out before asking. Found them online and ordered just the polished pins for now. I may order the surrounds later if I have confidence I can install them without screwing things up!

Guess I'll keep the other UPN ones as backup, or maybe they'll fit my sons 2001 Taurus. (?)

Thanks Donny. That's about the 5th upgrade you have mentioned that I have copied!

N.

[martyo]

I'm not too wild about removing the door panels and wrecking the old bezels, esp. for new ones that don't fit quite as well, but agree about the arm rest irritation and like the stock shape in that regard.


Taking the door panels off is easier than you think. If you need instructions, let me know and I can pdf them and e-mail them to you.

[Donny Carlson]

Taking the door panels off is easier than you think. If you need instructions, let me know and I can pdf them and e-mail them to you.I damaged the vinyl around the bezels on the driver side by accident trying to do it with the panels on. This was before I figured out that snipping off the shoulder worked. The problem though, it's a half-ass solution, leaving the old bezel down inside the door, albeit contained by door lock pin. This is a potential rattle source. Best to take the skins off, pop the old bezels out properly, then insert the new ones and secure with a drop of trim glue or hot melt glue.

I'd think a trim shop would do it for you for a reasonable fee if you aren't up to doing it yourself.

That said, the passenger side sure looks nice!!

I have two options now - replace the trim (and I think this means entire door panel) or have it covered in leather like Todd's car or Legal Knevil. The lesser expensive is the leather covering, and it has the added plus of a looking great and feeling great, too.


Here's the leather trim on LK's door:

http://www.legalknevil.com/albums/Marauder/ajq.sized.jpg (http://www.legalknevil.com/gallery/Marauder/ajq?full=1)

[Svashtar]

Taking the door panels off is easier than you think. If you need instructions, let me know and I can pdf them and e-mail them to you.
Thanks Marty! That's decent of you and I may take you up on that!

Regards,

Norm