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Fri Jun 03, 2011 4:04 am

hi, i have an early pair of icepick handles that i wish to fit to my 60 panel van, the van however it turns out has one 60 door and one 64 door fitted! it looks the same except the hole for the door handle to fit is round rather than square, does anyone have any ideas on how to get my door to fit and work in the van with the early handles. I read something about modifying the arm for the handle?

I also dont have any door mechanisms/striker/rods fitted as they were not supplied.

Many thanks

Fri Jun 03, 2011 8:28 am

The early door mechanisms do not fit the later doors (& vice versa)
THe ice pick handles don't fit the later doors, nor would they work with the later door mechanisms.
While you could theoretically fab up a striker plate to let the later door work with the later door mechanism, the easiest thing to do would be to find the right door for your bus, and sell the later one you have.

If you hack your door to make it work, it will still be something that needs to be replaced with the right door, and then it will be harder to sell the hacked door.

FWIW, VW did make a striker plate that goes on the door jamb, letting you used a icepick door on a 63 1/2 through 65/66? bus. You would want the oppposite of that, which I haven't ever seen.

Fri Jun 03, 2011 8:46 am

I almost did this to my old '64 but decided against it- door needs too many mods, as Clara stated. it is cheaper and better for the value of the bus to locate the correct doors.

Fri Jun 03, 2011 10:43 am

I have icepick handles on my Dec '63 singlecab...correct for that date?

Fri Jun 03, 2011 10:56 am

Thomas Pedigo wrote: I have icepick handles on my Dec '63 singlecab...correct for that date?
Yes.

Fri Jun 03, 2011 4:11 pm

thanks for the replies guys,

Clara, i think you are right, looking at the striker there is no way it will fit without some serious fabrication.

So on with my hunt for the correct door!

Fri Jun 03, 2011 11:56 pm

So the 64' door you have is a late 64'? with the push button? If it's clean, maybe you could work a trade with someone??

Scott

Sat Jun 04, 2011 6:01 am

well this is the thing...

it looks like the door should have an ice pick handle as there is no second hole to mount the later style door handles.

The hole is round rather than square like my other door.

My latch will not fit in the door, unless i could get a late latch/stricker/catch, do you think that might work if i enlarged the hole for the door handle to fit?

Sat Jun 04, 2011 10:12 am

Post a photo... i think that would help.

Sun Jun 05, 2011 5:09 am

ok, so this is the door i have

the ice pic handle i have will not fit, as it has a square base, and there is a round/oval hole in the door.

I have no mechanism or rod other than this (which is an early striker/mechanism)

now...if i got a late mechanism/striker and rod (correct for the door) would this fit with my handle (if i enlarged the hole in the door skin)

OR can you get a later ice pick handle for this type of door? I assume you can by the fact there is no other mounting holes in the door skin.

Many thanks

Sun Jun 05, 2011 8:32 am

Clara wrote: The early door mechanisms do not fit the later doors (& vice versa)
The ice pick handles don't fit the later doors, nor would they work with the later door mechanisms.While you could theoretically fab up a striker plate to let the later door work with the later door mechanism, the easiest thing to do would be to find the right door for your bus, and sell the later one you have.

If you hack your door to make it work, it will still be something that needs to be replaced with the right door, and then it will be harder to sell the hacked door.

FWIW, VW did make a striker plate that goes on the door jamb, letting you used a icepick door on a 63 1/2 through 65/66? bus. You would want the oppposite of that, which I haven't ever seen.

You have the one part of the 55-60 door mechanism. The door is wrong though.

Mon Jun 06, 2011 3:43 am

so it seems even with all the right fittings for the late door, i still cant get my icepick handle to fit then?!

did they do an icepick handle for this age door? as it has no second door mounting hole, or has that been filled?

Mon Jun 06, 2011 7:31 am

oet wrote: or has that been filled?

Look inside? Maybe you could use a pushbutton handle that pulled out like an icepick and hack the mechanism into it?

Tue Jun 07, 2011 2:52 am

i will do, its at the bodyshop at the mo tho so cant till i go down there.

my gut feeling is sell the door and buy another earlier door to fit properly

Tue Jun 07, 2011 8:32 am

oet wrote:
my gut feeling is sell the door and buy another earlier door to fit properly
that is the best idea.

FWIW, there are two, well three kinds of icepick doors.
barndoor:

3/55 through VIN 705 xxx, larger finger recess:

the 61-12/63 kind has an indent where the door handle base goes.

64-67: (there are variations in push button doors as well, but general idea)

the door mechanism is completely different from icepick to push button.
icepick door mechanism:

push button back part of door mechanism (one of two kinds):

the door mechanism for 55-60 is different than 61-63, see parts list for p/n
the door handle base is also different 55-60 than 61-63.

The left mechanism is different than the right, pasenger locks from inside, drivers doesn't. You don't want to accidently lock the bus from the inside on the drivers side, cause then you can't open it from the outside. It is important to use a driver side mechanism on the drivers side, though they will fit the other way.

hope that helps

Tue Jun 07, 2011 11:48 am

Clara, you are a legend....thanks for the info!
i really appreciate it! :D

Thu Aug 18, 2011 8:40 am

Hmmm interesting read ..... you guys are amazing with this knowledge ....

Just had my 1960 bus hit on the drivers side (RHD UK ) and i need another door shame really as my bus has no filler whatsoever ( crys )

Anyway someone had modified the b pillars in the past to fit later doors so mine has later doors and locks on it .... now i have had this smash, im thinking of reverting back to correct doors ( Icepick ones ) is there any way i can fit icepick locks and mechs to a late door ? obviously some mods to the holes but is there no way i can fit icepick handles to them ??It's really difficult finding mint doors here in the uk ... especially early ones I'll prob be able to find a late one i would think ..... what other mods would i need to do ? apart from the obvious ( ie change locks and mechs )

Thu Aug 18, 2011 9:19 am

Just a slight clarification to Clara's informative write-up. The driver's door CAN be locked from the inside on the later doors. However, if you get out and try to lock the door using the inside handle while the door is open, closing the door will cause it to unlock. Both doors do the same thing so passengers can't lock the door for you as they are getting out. I'm lazy so I often reach in through the window to lock the door and then slide the window shut. If the latch on my wing window wasn't broken, I'd probably be more careful about checking to see if the key is in my pocket and not still in the ignition. :oops:

Thu Aug 18, 2011 2:50 pm

Wait a second! You can lock the doors from inside? HOW? :shock:

Edit: Just went outside and checked it out, figured it out! Had no idea!

Thu Aug 18, 2011 4:16 pm

Yes, push button doors lock by pushing them forward from the inside.

Same with the earlier ice-pick handle passenger doors.