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Mid 50's used to sell a repair shaft for the 1956 Ford F100 that was 1/4" longer than the standard shaft for padded door cards. I found it in their catalog, but am unable to find anyone else that carries it. Does anyone have a solution?
I needed some and bought some extensions but they didn't fit at all. I sure wish someone would pick up the ball on the longer shafts since many of us are opting for thicker door panels than the original cardboard ones.
I checked LMC, but they only have the ones for the 53-55 models. Others show them for 53-56 in standard length. Mid fifty shows one for the 53-55 and a different one for the 56. Someone made them for Mid fifty, if we could find out who, I would pay to have another batch made.
Classic Industries Part # TR21818EL . I bought a set from them through the Old Car Centre in Langley BC. I have a brand new set of the original length I had bought earlier. Then after rummaging through some boxes of spare parts I found the 1/4" longer stems to replace the shorter ones . Murphy's law ...lol
Thank you John, but that number is for the 1953-55 models. I checked and they skip the years from 1956-1960. I am not sure why. We are getting closer though!!
Mine is stock in that area. The handles and door lock remotes were purchased from Dennis Carpenter. The set screw is too far out to engage in the area behind the knurling, which causes the handles to come loose and fall out. If the shaft is longer, the screw my hit the area it is designed to hit and perhaps the door handles will stay on. I will refrain from any comment on the country f origin of the parts. THANKS!!! Dan
I have a Midfifty catalogue here and the only thing I see is that the stems for the window cranks are 53-55 specific and 56 on their on, door regulators were the same.
I assume they are different because of the way the handles attach. 53-55 use a clip and 56 uses a set screw.
Just a thought ...if that's the case could a small divot be drilled into the 53-55 shaft for the 56 handles screw to set into?
Or use 53-55 handles and clips
I have a Midfifty catalogue here and the only thing I see is that the stems for the window cranks are 53-55 specific and 56 on their on, door regulators were the same.
Friday I tore apart a 56 regulator and a 53-55 regulator
I would have bet the farm they were the same. I tried to make the 53-55 shaft work in the 56 and they will not work. The internal gear is different size between the 2 and you can't put the 56 gear onto the 53-55 shaft. The 53-55 are longer than the 56 and I believe that if you disassemble a 56 and cut off the end of it, them do the same for a 53-55 only cut it off closer to the gear so you'd end up with a longer shaft to weld onto the 56 gear end
a lot of work to do that and once I saw it wasn't an easy swap I ended up throwing everything in the scrap pile. The only pic I took of my troubles. 56 on the left and 53-55 on the right.
Friday I tore apart a 56 regulator and a 53-55 regulator
I would have bet the farm they were the same. I tried to make the 53-55 shaft work in the 56 and they will not work. The internal gear is different size between the 2 and you can't put the 56 gear onto the 53-55 shaft. The 53-55 are longer than the 56 and I believe that if you disassemble a 56 and cut off the end of it, them do the same for a 53-55 only cut it off closer to the gear so you'd end up with a longer shaft to weld onto the 56 gear end
a lot of work to do that and once I saw it wasn't an easy swap I ended up throwing everything in the scrap pile. The only pic I took of my troubles. 56 on the left and 53-55 on the right.
Are those from the window cranks or the door handle regulator. I rebuilt both the window and door regulators when I did my panel because the stems were to short. When I started working on the pickup I ordered the extra length stems for both the window and door handles. My understanding is this part works the same 53-56 This is the one advertised from Classic Industries that says 53-55 but I'm using them on the Mercury I'm doing now and they work fine.
I know the window cranks are different between the 53-55 and the 56
Last edited by 56panelford; May 9, 2026 at 07:57 PM.
