EARLY AND LATE SLIIDING DOOR HANDLE FITMENT

["WEAZLECHIN"]

my van is an early lhd, will other door handles fit? if i turn them upside down ect, i know one sort is longer than the other but which is which?

[cumbriankeith]

Early is longer than late. The depression in the door is different too, in length and shape - late is deeper while early has an extra plastic thing that stops things getting hooked behind the handle.
Both handles have square sections that fit into the mech so I'm guessing would still work on the wrong side but maybe the key would turn the other way about if fitted on the wrong side.

["WEAZLECHIN"]

thanks mate, so you think that a late one will be ok if fitted back to front/upside down? i hope so as early ones are a bit harder to get hold of.

[cumbriankeith]

I think so but I haven't actually tried it.

[CycloneMike]

Sorry to bring bad news but an early handle can not be swapped from left to right etc. I'm sure it will open the door but the part of the lock that slides out is offset in the barrel and will not lock.
I know this bercause I bought a LJD handle for my RHD door to try the same. You can swap the lock barrels from handle to handle (left to right) though to keep the same key.
You will find that early/ long LHD handles are still available such as here for example.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VW-T2-T3-Schiebet ... m153.l1262

["WEAZLECHIN"]

oh bugger, i am not paying £50 though ... its at25 not a bentley looks like i will need to look out for a lhd one then. (early or late)