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Parking brake handle removal


AlfaBMWGuy

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I have a new-to-me early 1971 '02 in Granada that I bought from the original owner in Boise, Idaho last summer (I'm in southeastern Washington).  I am finishing up the mechanical sorting over the past months to make it ready for regular use after only being driven a few times per year in the last 30 years.  After that I will be on to the cosmetics inside and out.  Here are a couple pics of what I call my "sympathetic restoration" (yes, I'll be replacing those door speakers with something more appropriate, carpet, and some upholstery work).  This is my 3rd 2002, but first since the early 2000's.  I've been following the FAQ for many years and on a daily basis the past couple years, but I'm an infrequent poster.  It's helped me figure out a few issues already via the search function, but I have one now I didn't find any existing posts on.
 
The original owner on mine removed the plastic handle on the parking brake lever at some point so now I just have the metal lever.  I found a supplier for used early handles like I need, but all they have are cracked/split examples (maybe from removing the handles improperly?).  I found a complete parking brake lever with handle for sale with the handle in good condition so that's my preference.  Is it easy to remove the handle from an existing lever without damaging the handle?  The lever is much rougher than mine so I would just live without a handle if I can't swap only the handle over.  How best to get the handle off the one I buy, where I assume it's been for over 45 years now?  I was thinking of cutting off the lever with handle I buy with a hacksaw so I can get a metal washer around the lever that's just the right inside diameter to be able to exert force (maybe directly with hammer on the washer or maybe a deep socket to get even pressure around the circumference) on the handle without damaging it.  Or, is the judicious use of a heat gun to soften the plastic just a bit (don't want to deform the handle ridges of course) the better/only way?
 
Thanks,
Gary
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Nice original 02. I have a 1970 Granada automatic. Could you provide a photo of your instrument binnacle. I need to confirm if the silver dollar gauges I found are correct. Thanks.


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Thanks all for the added advice.  I'm confident enough now to proceed with removing the grip from the handle I'm buying and getting it on my existing no-grip handle, all without damaging the grip hopefully.

 

Guy, here's the best pic of my gauges I have.  I'm without the car for a couple more weeks and these were taken by the original owner last summer.

 

-Gary

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Thanks all for the added advice.  I'm confident enough now to proceed with removing the grip from the handle I'm buying and getting it on my existing no-grip handle, all without damaging the grip hopefully.
 
Guy, here's the best pic of my gauges I have.  I'm without the car for a couple more weeks and these were taken by the original owner last summer.
 
-Gary
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Thanks this really helps. I have the correct gauges now and just need to modify the heater control on the right side, mine has 2 knobs, one is nonfunctional, probably added by a previous owner.

Good luck with the ebrake , the plastic grip does come loose, so you should be able to get it off and put it on your handle. I have a spare if that doesn't work.

Guy4256d5b5bb064cb9ae7a0a743157a425.jpg

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Thanks Guy.  I'll let you know if it comes to that.

 

Good luck on your Granada '02 as well.  I'm really not a "red car" person at all--I tend more towards medium to dark blues and greens.  But, this is a more subtle color than Verona (I don't like the brighter and "tomato" shades), plus it's really rare to see an '02 or any vintage BMW that remains Granada after all these decades.  Seems like dating back to the first repaint for these in the late 1970's or early 1980's, owners tended to have them "updated" to a brighter red, whether that's Verona or something custom.  My guess is that they considered Granada "boring" and I can see that for a "red car" guy.  Mine was repainted around 1980, but what is on the outside seems like a match of what I know wasn't repainted in the engine bay, etc.  It's also ironic that my Alfa Giulia Super is toward the red end of the spectrum as well, an original color called Prugna, which is a plum in Italian (there is no separate word for prune and plum in Italian).  It's more of a raspberry lipstick shade--definitely an early 1970's period color.  Here's my Alfa...

 

-Gary

PrugnaGazebo.JPG

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1 hour ago, AlfaBMWGuy said:

Seems like dating back to the first repaint for these in the late 1970's or early 1980's, owners tended to have them "updated" to a brighter red, whether that's Verona or something custom.  My guess is that they considered Granada "boring"

It's a Spanish red with some black in it and hard to duplicate/match by paints back then.  Nowdays it can be matched.  I had my rock chipped front and hood stripped and painted about 5 years ago and unless I tell a looker, they never notice any difference from the rest of the car.  I pulled the side lower trim a couple years ago to check/clean beneath and the paint covered by the lower trim was lighter under the trim than the uncovered side.

Edited by jimk

A radiator shop is a good place to take a leak.

 

I have no idea what I'm doing but I know I'm really good at it.

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