Puff the Tragic Wagon

Well, I certainly don't expect miracles with this car. The mouldings are turning out to be killers. However, what I would really like to find are window cranks. The car uses an oddball style with a square drive and a real motherf__ker of a retaining clip. The crank was used on fullsize cars from at least 1957 through '65, except C-bodies. B-bodies never used 'em, and Valiants/Lancers only used them from '60-'62. A special tool, which most guys make from a cheap flat-blade screwdriver or butter knife, is required to remove them. You can see the recess in the picture; the wide part is where the spring-loaded tang sits. It clips into a groove on the square peg of the window regulator.

Here's a close-up of what the back of the handle looks like:

crank.JPG


Click here for a short how-to on the removal process. I need all four window cranks; I think I have at least two of the door-latch handles (which use the same retainers). Those are the lift-up "paddle style" which I'd like to keep, but the window cranks can be from anything with this retainer system. I just want four matching ones regardless of year or style. I found three in a '60 Valiant yesterday but had no idea how to remove them at the time... and the fourth was nowhere to be found. :doh: Apparently, they can't be removed with just a flat-blade screwdriver; it's got to have that bend or you can't access the part of the clip you need to hit.

If you feel like taking a ride out to that place, let me know. I'll reimburse you for fuel, any parts, and your time. I just can't seem to find this stuff around here; the one guy I knew that had ancient stuff passed away and all his cars got scrapped.
 
ill get up there as soon as i can then..the walk in that place is worth it ...ill let ya know what i find

i assume desotos also use the same handle?....i ask cause i last knew them having a couple of soto wagons of the late 50s
 
Yes. I should've been more specific. Any Chrysler full-size from '57-'64 and the '65 Dodge 880 and Imperial should have the same handles. Like I said, the only concern I have about looks is that all four cranks match.

Thanks, man!
 
oh...880's...uh..ima run this past the wife she sorted all my "big car" stuff and would know if i have some
 
From what I gathered while finding that picture and the link to the window-crank removal process/tool, you'd almost certainly remember pulling those bastards. To a man, everyone says they're a real prick to remove.
 
I couldn't find any such pictures in either Google Images or on eBay. Lord knows I tried, man. :doh:
 
This is the tool that was originally designed to remove them; :hmmm:

tool.jpg
 
I just scored a full set of NOS "eyebrow" mouldings, headlamp to fender, for the usual price of a single good used one. My nipples explode with delight.
 
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