VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 1937 Exterior Door Handles

How do I remove the exterior door handles on my 1937 Chevy coupe? I have lost the key and need to take the driver side off to take it and have a key made for it. I also need to remove the trunk handle for the same reason. Thank you for responding.

Don't know if the '37 is the same buy my '38 has a small screw holding them on. You access the screw from a small hole in the side of the door.

I see the little hole in the door jamb but through that little hole I see the sliding pin that the key turns to lock the door (if I had the key). Turning the handle to unlatch the door, that pin turns out of sight. Where is that little screw that you indicate is through that little hole? Looking at a spare handle that I have, there are threads on the end of the handle. What do they tighten up against? I assume that I will have to take the inside panel off to work on the handles. I sure hate to have to do that as I have it securely attached to the door. Maybe I can pull the panel apart at the edge enough to get to the back of the handle. Do I have to get inside the door panel anyway to remove the handle? There are two large screws on the inside of the door jamb next to the latch. I assume that they hold the latch in place and probably should not be "fooled" with, right?

Thanks for the help.

'37 is the same as '38, there is a small tapered screw that is acsessed though a small hole near the latch pin.

If the 37 is the same as the 38,as those other folks said, then your 37 DRIVERS DOOR handle has been replaced.
The 38's did not come with a outside key locking handle on the drivers side,only the passengers door had a key lock And that same key also worked the trunk lock...ED

You guys were exactly right, although I never questioned your advice. I took out the little set screw on each door and removed the handles. The trunk handle comes out by taking off the nut and locking washer on the inside. The locking pin on the locking handle is missing. Now I am looking for a locking handle with matching key. Thank you, guys, for helping me and solving my problem. You guys in VCCA are the greatest.

Elvin

Glad we could help. Ed1938 is correct, the 1937 drivers door outside handle did not have a lock cylinder, only the passenger door.

Doesn't the passenger door key match the ignition (hexagonal key) and the glove box key match the trunk (oval key)? I seem to recall the logic was so you could drop the car off for service with one key and keep valuables locked in the trunk or glovebox...

You can tell most of my car is still in boxes and I have some rekeying to do!

On the 38 the ignition key (HEXAGONAL) works the passenger door lock and the trunk...the glove compartment lock takes a different key...ED

Since the locking door handle is on the driver's side, it has been put there by someone as the car did not come that way (as someone pointed out). The only way the ignition key would fit that door lock would be if the person who installed it had it rekeyed to the ignition key. I have thought about putting a locking handle on my '38 as it is inconvenient to have the locking door on the passenger's side if you are alone and have to reach in through the car to unlock the driver's side. If I do that, I will definitely have the door lock rekeyed to the ignition key. Beamer

I can't remember, it's been to many years since I put the rechromed door handles in my 37, but is it possible to reverse the left and right handles or are they made right and left?

Beamer....I recall reading a shop bulletin put out by Chevrolet to dealers, about many 38 owners complaining about the drivers door "no lock" handle with the same complaints you have.
The bulletin explained to dealers how to add a locking handle to the drivers door along with what parts are required, part numbers and installation instructions. Maybe I read it on that web site that has all the Chevy manuals???....ED

I never did understand the thinking for a passenger side only door lock. Anyone know why they did that?
Charlie

They didn't install a left locking handle to discourage entering the car on the "traffic" side.
In 1939 they did offer a left side locking handle changeover.
I installed a 1940 right locking handle with cylinder on the left side of my 1939. The only thing is the cylinder is up-side-down so the key is inserted with the "cut side" up. Sure is a lot more convienent then crawling across the front seatand shift lever

I have a locking door handle on the drivers door but dont have a key that fits , the ignition key will not turn the lock.Can you get these apart to check the tumblers in the handle cylinder.
I dont have a locking handle on the right side ,they must have changed the right for left.
Howard

Take the door handle off and take it, along with your ignition key, to a good locksmith and he will rekey the handle to work with the ignition key. Beamer

ED1938, Thanks for the tip. I have the Service Bulletins for '37 and '38. I will check those to see if there is anything in them about doing this. I won't look any further though unless this is something I decide to do in the future. In all probability, I will but no use getting any further ahead of myself than I already am!!. Beamer

BEAMER....I remembered were I seen the info (what a mind I have) Look on "oldcarmanualproject.com" see Bulletins index..."chevrolet service news & technical service bulletins"...Volume-12 Jan through Dec 1938..."front door locking landle-left"

I thought the shift lever was on the steering column in 1939. Was that just the master deluxe model? And, speaking of curbside entry, I suppose that would have been a good purpose. Nonetheless, it seems that with all the complaints (I trust there were some), that it wouldn't have taken them so long to correct the problem, i.e., having to unlock the door, get in and then scoot over while leaving the missus alone to fend for herself.
Charlie

Vacuum assisted steering column gear shift was an option on all 1939 cars.

I am not sure where this started, but in 1941 you could purchase a locking door handle for the drivers door and you could have both the passenger and driver sides keyed the same.

Ray,
I didn't know that. All 41s I've ever seen the lock below the door handle - on all models and on both sides. Are you talking about a truck?
Charlie

41specialdeluxe,

You are correct, it is the lock below the door handle. My bad.

ED1938, Yes, I found the info in my Tech Service Bulletins yesterday, but thanks for the tip. The old Chevy online manual site is a great source. I have it in "My Favorites". Beamer

I pulled the handle from my 1940 and found that even taking it to a lock smith they had no idea. I was stumped on how to get the handle apart ,until I noticed that about and inch up from the end of the handle was a very small pin 1/16" hard to see with the old grease and dirt dryed on handle shaft. The pin is off center ,can be driven out either way. Once the little pin was removed I was able to pull lock out of handle . When you look at the shaft from the lock it has the original key code stamped in the shaft.
These are four numbers and not tumbler numbers as the old cars were not numbered but color coded ,can you guess after 70 years the color would be gone. My handle and lock were rekeyed from original and are not alike .We are still woring on finding old tumblers ,I work in a Chevrolet dealership and was lucky enough to have an old key book to check the numbers for proper code. At least now I know how the handle comes apart.